BVI News

Terrance B Lettsome International Airport

THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 – Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to report on the Airport Extention Project.

In 2006 the British Virgin Islands Airports Authority having been less than a year old recognized the need for a Master Plan for the Territory’s Airport System. Immediately tenders were invited to bid for a strategic plan of the three (3) airports in the Territory including a second phase to study and develop a Master Plan for the National Airport System.

LOUIS BERGER GROUP/ MASTER PLAN

Louis Berger Group (LBG) out of Washington D.C. was the successful tender and in 2008 a contract was signed with the LBG. In summary their terms were as follows:

• First, to develop a Strategic Plan for the Airport System to guide the future development of airport infrastructure in the British Virgin Islands; and

• Second, following the vision of the Strategic Plan, prepare a master plan of the selected airport for a 20 – 25 year development planning horizon while meeting the business objectives of the BVIAA.

The primary airport considered for expansion was the T.B. Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island as the Virgin Gorda airport was severely limited by terrain obstacles in the vicinity of the airport. According to Louis Berger, shifting the airport in Virgin Gorda would require construction over aquatic ecosystems such as living coral and this presented insurmountable environmental issues. LBG stated that the construction of an entirely new runway on Anegada was not considered significantly more costly than development on Beef Island; however the related infrastructure such as terminal building, parking ramp, taxiways etc., would substantially increase the cost of such a development in comparison to options for expansion of the T.B. Lettsome Airport. In addition, for the following reason, the T. B. Lettsome Airport remains the most viable and logical option.

1. The number of persons needed to sustain an airport on Anegada means that other infrastructural development will become necessary; this will exponentially increase the cost of development and the cost of the social infrastructure.

In June 2011 the Louis Berger Group concluded and delivered its Final Report to the BVI Airports Authority. LBG recommended an upgrade of the current facilities and the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (TBLIA) along with (5) runway extension Options. The LBG recommended, Option 4, as the favorable option. Option 4 consists of a dual runway system consisting of the current runway 070/25 and a new runway 6,069.5 ft (1,850 m) in length oriented along a 048/228 degree heading, to accommodate regional jets and large aircraft, such as the Boeing 737-700, flying directly to and from the Eastern seaboard of the US mainland. The main advantage of Option 4 is the ability to have a straight in approach to runway 048/228.

AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Following the receipt of the Louis Berger Report, the Board of Directors appointed a Development Committee consisting of the BVIAA’s Operations Team and one board member, to review and evaluate the master plan submitted by the Louis Berger Group (LBG). The Committee’s purpose was to evaluate Option 4 and offer recommendations where necessary.

The Committee reviewed the plan submitted by LBG and found that it contained important information that needed further evaluation and clarification. These areas included; implementation of modern NAVIADS, risks associated with operating a dual runway system, non-instrument verses instrument runway, runway re-orientation and runway productivity.

After the committee’s evaluation of LBG plan, the committee recommended an alternative option now referred to as Option 6. Option 6 is a non-instrument runway extended to a total distance of 7000ft along the current orientation. The Committee evaluated Option 6 as meeting the operational needs of the design aircraft along with the option to use aircraft up to code 4D; these include aircraft such as the Boeing 737, Airbus 320 and the Boeing 757.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Madam Speaker, we could not undertake a project of this magnitude without conducting and Environmental Impact Assessment. Therefore, the EIA project was tendered and three (3) bids were received from reputable organizations. In November of 2011 the BVIAA formally contracted Kraus-Manning to conduct an Impact Assessment of the two Options; 4 and 6. Among others, the Impact Assessment is expected to provide an assessment of;

(a) The Physical Impact, including the oceanographic parameters and beach dynamics for the project footprint and immediate adjacent areas

(b) A Biological Environmental Assessment, and

(c) The Human Environmental Impact each of the two (2) proposals may have.

The Assessment is expected to make recommendations to mitigate the negative impacts that may arise from each of the two (2) Options. This Impact Assessment which was due at the end of last month April has now been delayed and delivery is expected at the end of May 2011. Madam Speaker, my best understanding of the cause of this delay were the decision to deploy wave and current monitoring equipment and the development of a scoping study as requested by the Town and Country Planning Department.

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA)

Madam Speaker, the BVI Airports Authority has also contracted the services of the International Airline Transport Association (IATA) to conduct a technical review of the two (2) preferred options for the development of the Airport. The analysis will check compliance with ICAO’s (the International Civil Aviation Organization) recommendations and alignment with best practices. This review is now expected to be submitted by the end of next week.

APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT MANAGER

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour is committed to moving forward with the Airport Expansion Project without delay as such we have engaged the services of Mr. Winston Wilson to be the Project Manager. Mr. Wilson will begin on May 14th 2012 and will immediately be engaged in the preparation of tender documents as well as assisting the Ministry with the logistics and coordination efforts necessary to get a project of this magnitude off to a good start. As the project gets underway, Mr. Wilson duties will also entail, but not limited to, the following:

1. Ensure that all contractors fulfill their contractual obligations concerning performance bonds, insurances, work program, and any other necessary obligation.

2. Supervise, by imposition of the technical and fiscal controls on the contractors, the performance of the contractors on site in order to assure execution of the works in compliance with the contractual stipulations and the agreed work program within the time limits established by the contract.

3. Verify all measurement and quantity calculations and certify all payment statement submitted by the contractor after checking them for consistency with the specifications, Bill of Quantities and contract terms and produce payment certificates for submission to the Government.

4. Produce accurate and timely reports on the management and status of the project.

5. Provide qualitative and quantitative assessments of the work done.

6. Provide a running cost report on all funds made available to the Project.

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