Holiday says steps taken
to ensure runway safety
AIRPORT--Princess Juliana International Airport operating company (PJIAE) has taken the necessary steps within the possibilities of the spatial limitations of its geography to ensure compliance with regulations for runway end safety areas (RESAs), which are required on both ends of the runway.
“To fully comply with the RESA requirements, PJIAE would have to reclaim land in Maho Bay or in Simpson Bay Lagoon and address a number of property issues,” PJIAE president Eugene Holiday stated in a press release issued on Tuesday.
After considerable review and discussion with the Directorate of Civil Aviation of the Netherlands Antilles (DCANA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) representative, PJIAE developed a phased plan for the introduction of RESAs.
The plan calls for the reclamation of land in Simpson Bay Lagoon east of the head of the runway and the rerouting of the public road in that area. The plan comprises an intermediate stage and an ultimate stage, Holiday said.
The intermediate solution calls for the introduction of a single RESA on the east end of the runway. To realise that, the east end fence will need to be moved.
Holiday: “The ultimate solution, which entails the full introduction of RESA, calls for the reclamation of land in the lagoon and the resolution of some property issues in that area. As a result, PJIAE presented the plan to the Executive Council in 2003 and requested permission from government to reclaim the land in lagoon.
“In the meantime, PJIAE has completed the intermediary stage (single RESA) of its plan. Further, PJIAE has reclaimed most of the needed land in Simpson Bay Lagoon and has been seeking to get the required permits to move the process forward towards the full introduction of the RESA.”
Transport Minister Maurice Adriaens stated on Monday that ICAO had mentioned the runway safety situation of the St. Maarten airport after auditing all Kingdom airports. He said ICAO representatives had not visited the St. Maarten airport.
“Moreover, in contrast to the original plans for the ICAO audit, the scheduled pre-audit of PJIAE by DCANA was postponed by DCANA until May 2008,” Holiday stated.
In conclusion, Holiday stated that PJIAE was, as always, committed and continues to work with local, federal and international agencies to ensure compliance with all pertinent national and international aviation standards.
“PJIAE wishes to emphasise that in pursuing its mission it applies a set of guiding principles which gives direction in the day-to-day management and operation of the airport. Primary among these guiding principles is ‘Safety and Security.’ In that context, PJIAE, in cooperation with the appropriate government departments and international aviation agencies, is committed to ensure compliance with ICAO standards.”
