John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter
THE AIRPORTS Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) says it cannot afford to immediately implement a new stipulation by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to establish Runway Safety Areas (RSA) at the island's airports.
Earl Richards, president of the AAJ, in an interview with The Gleaner on Thursday said that if the AAJ were to embark immediately on creating the RSA, "that obviously is a major project and probably would cost somewhere in the order of $800 million to $900 million (for Norman Manley International Airport alone) and therefore that is not the appropriate short-term solution."
The AAJ is instead seeking approval to implement a provisional measure that would be cheaper and would provide for more time to pursue the ICAO's requirement over a longer period. As a result, he said the AAJ had filed a "difference" application to "declare new runway distances." By pursuing such an alternative, he explained that "you can actually create the area that will be required by shortening runway distances."
The ICAO had requested all international airports submit proposals for upgrading runway facilities in order to meet new certification standards by November 27, which the AAJ has done. But Mr. Richards explained that "in the event that a particular country cannot meet the required standards, the relevant authorities in the respective countries are allowed to file a "difference" application.
Under the ICAO's stipulation, establishing RSAs are necessary to safely accommodate large, wide-bodied aircraft and cargo planes. A RSA is a defined area surrounding the runway that is established for reducing the risk of personal injury and damage to airplanes in the event of an operational undershoot, overshoot, or excursion from the runway.
He said that previously, establishing a RSA was a recommendation, but the "ICAO has now made (it) a standard and therefore airports all over the world are addressing this issue."
Mr. Richards said the AAJ's proposal, if approved by ICAO, is expected to be completed in three years. However, he was unable to say how much less it would cost as the necessary evaluation process has not yet been completed. He said the AAJ was confident that the measure would be approved by the ICAO. A response is expected by June.
Mr. Richards explained that to meet the required standard for the Norman Manley International Airport, "the ideal solution would be to extend the runway into the harbour to a minimum 300 metres to provide these runway safety areas." He said it would require additional time to complete all the environmental impact assessments, feasibility studies etc. However, for the Sangster International Airport, it would be easier as the necessary landspace is already available around the airport and has been acquired to carry out the upgrade.
