A just-published report on Wallblake Airport in Anguilla, by the UK-based regulators of the Aviation Security Services for the Overseas Territories, has disrupted the flying into the island of such private jets as the Gulf 4s, 5s, 6s and Global Express. As a result one of these jets, bringing a client to Anguilla, has had to land at Juliana Airport in St. Maarten and the client continued his journey here by a shuttle service provided either by air or sea.

Mr. Victor Banks

This has underscored the seriousness of the matter, according to Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming.

Reporters were told at the Chief Minister’s Press Conference on Tuesday this week that the problem had nothing to do with the current paved runway itself, but with the lack of what is called a “Runway Safety End” at the eastern extremity of the airstrip. The required new portion, 150 metres or 500 feet, does not have to be surfaced, but must be compacted at the same level and impaction of the existing stretch of runway, Minister of Finance and Tourism, Victor Banks, explained. Its requirement is to provide some extra space for aircraft in case of an aborted landing or taking off difficulties and is a usual necessity at all airports everywhere.

He joined Mr. Fleming in saying that the Government was not given any advance notice about the matter or a period in which to have the problem fixed. Once the report was published with the required runway specifications, it was then up to the aircraft operators, such as NetJet, to take the necessary action of safeguard. Mr. Banks said that luckily for the Government it had already acquired the land, although there were still some compensation issues to settle with Dame Bernice Lake, with whom the requirement for the new safety end for the runway would be discussed.

The Minister disclosed that the Government now had to respond very swiftly to implement the safety end at the runway because, with the jets not flying directly to Anguilla, the upper end of the tourism market would be affected. “It means that we would have to revert to the past where [travellers on] the jets had to land in St. Maarten and shuttle over to Anguilla by air or sea in the short term,” he stated.

Mr. Banks informed the press that the Government already had its engineers undertake an estimate of the needed amount of fill for the new section of the runway and the cost of the construction. He said there was sufficient fill available and that the Government was now moving to seek the required financing. He could not say how much the work would cost, but on that question he was of the view that the Government had a strong case for borrowing to make to the British Government. That case is that the island’s tourism industry, the mainstay of the economy, is at risk and the provision of the runway safety end is a must in order to guarantee the arrivals of the private jets, an important segment of the travel service to Anguilla.

“I think we already have a strategy in place, but I think it is important that we let the people know about the situation,” he stressed. “It calls for a lot of discussions over the next couple of weeks. The tourism sector will be affected, but if we get something done in short order, we would be able to minimise that impact and provide convenient access for clients who want to come to Anguilla during the upcoming tourist season.”

Mr. Banks said that every effort was being made to have the runway facility in place before the high season – by January coming at least.

The Chief Minister commented that the matter was likely to resurrect criticism of the Government for deciding not to build an airport at Brimegin, on the north coast of the island. He maintained that it was the right decision to develop the existing Wallblake Airport where, aside from the lack of the safety end, the runway itself was adequate.

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