The highlight for the week takes place on Thursday, May 17, 2012 the GIAA Terminal Heroes Memorial, East Ticket Lobby. Airport Police will be presenting their 1st Airport Police Reserve Cycle, 4th Airport Police/Guard Academy Cycle, 1st Airport K9 Drug Detection Cycle, Swearing-In of New Airport Police Officers new police recruit cycle, and the new members of formed Civilian Volunteer Airport Police Reserve Program (CVAPRP). The presentation ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m.

“The Airport will continue to be as cost effective as possible for our airlines, who, in turn, will increase their services and offer other options or destinations for the region and people of Guam,” stated Chuck Ada, Executive Manager of the Airport Authority. “We intend to hold our position in the top 10 of US Ports for International Arrivals. This ranking clearly shows our geographic importance and relevance in the industry and the nation. It is critical that we continue our efforts as a community to ensure Guam remains the premier destination choice in the region.”

Local residents who desire to make available their services to assist the Guam Airport Authority are being sought to participate in this program on an entirely voluntary basis. The members of the CVAPRP will receive training in crime prevention control, and operational techniques and procedures for natural and man-made emergencies. GIAA will provide basic supplies and equipment to assure the constant operability of the Civilian Volunteer Airport Police Reserve.

The volunteer program will include a continuing program for replacement. All interested participants are encouraged to contact the Airport Police at 671.646.0308/21 for more information, as a training cycle will be kicked off during this year’s Law Enforcement Week, which runs from May 13-19, 2012.

Specific areas may be affected with warmer temperatures during the air conditioning upgrade project. They include the TSA Pre-Screening Lobby, retail boutiques and food outlets located on the Concourse, certain tenant offices and the West Ticket Lobby.

Prior to scheduling the work, the Airport had recently installed package units to service the areas of the terminal where air handling units are being replaced. Additional measures such as portable air conditioning units and fans are also being put in place.

The airport wishes to thank all tenants, passengers and visitors to the Terminal for their patience as these upgrades are being undertaken in line with our overall efforts to improve our facilities.

“We are in full support of this application,” stated Chuck Ada, Executive Manager of the A.B Won Pat International Airport, Guam (GIAA).   Chairman Mike Ysrael pointed out that “Jeju Air will be a welcomed airline partner for GIAA, along with the 10 operators currently providing air service on Guam.  Jeju’s proposed low cost carrier model will provide an alternative choice of air service from Korea to Guam.  We are especially excited about direct service from Pusan, presently unserved from Guam.”

In their Application, Jeju Air stated their intention to utilize a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 186 or 189 seats.  “In anticipation of DOT approval to their application, we are inviting Jeju Air officials to meet with the Guam Airport to discuss the specifics of their operations such as arrival times, frequency, ground operations and other permit requirements to operate scheduled flights to Guam,” said Chuck Ada.

Governor Eddie B. Calvo affirmed the Airport’s support of the Application, stating, “News like this spells the beginning of another opportunity to bring more money into Guam that will give businesses more reason to hire our people. This is good news for tourism and it is good news for our economy.”

GIAA’s letter of support is attached for reference.  Jeju Air’s application to the US DOT and all other relevant documents can be found at this link:  http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-2012-0050-0001.

Between check in counters and aircraft, there is a huge shared system called the baggage pier sort system. The system is fed luggage from the check in counters of all airlines through separate conveyor belts, enters into a pier system and is pushed through to a central moving conveyor belt. A scanner reads the luggage tags, and sorts the luggage to loading areas assigned to airlines. They are then transferred to tugs and loaded into the plane’s bellies.

The Airport has partnered with its contractor ASIG, to improve baggage sorting with the installation of a new system as part of its baggage system improvement project. The pier sort system originally installed in 1996 had been experiencing a high percentage of misread luggage which required manual sorting and feeding of rejected luggage during baggage check in and load periods.

“We work with our partners in identifying ways to increase efficiency. An Airport Luggage Identification System 400 (ALIS400), which basically is a flexible bar code reader system with bar code scanners has been installed at key intersecting areas of the baggage pier system for better tracking and higher percentage of accepted and sorted baggage,” stated Chuck Ada, Airport Executive Manager. “This increases time and labor efficiency, eliminating the labor intensive manual sorting and delays of misread and mis-sorted luggage,” he continued. “The system is We are confident this system would help overall operations and timely performance.” The new electronic scanner has high performance capabilities that are able to read a wide variety of bar code labels that may be twisted, dirty and bent, and reading rates of 98% and higher are possible with this new system.

ASIG®, financed the purchase of the state-of-the-art luggage identification technology for the Airport. Since 2002, ASIG has been providing comprehensive maintenance and repair services for the airport’s baggage handling infrastructure.

Commenting on the new system, Andy Reeves, Senior Vice President, Operations, Americas, said “ASIG has a long standing partnership with GUM, providing them with a variety of airside, terminal and aviation fuel services for more than 25 years. We are committed to delivering real and sustainable value to our customers and financing this type of investment is indicative of that philosophy. The system eliminates manual scanning of baggage, speeds sorting and increases accuracy, thus reducing the likelihood of lost baggage. The system puts GUM’s handling system on par with other world class airport systems.”

“FAA officials from the Western Pacific Region will be reviewing aviation technical operations, runway safety issues and enhancements, to name a few of the agenda items. Regional Airport managers from Guam, Palau, Yap, Kosrae, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Commonwealth Ports Authority, American Samoa, Hawaii and the Marshall Islands will be presenting their Airport updates, and an airline panel will convene to discuss navigational equipment issues,” stated Charles H. Ada II, Executive Manager. “Having just taken over the reigns of the A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam, I am excited to network with FAA Managers with oversight over our airports and my colleagues on these key and current issues in aviation safety.”

FAA Regional Administrator, William C. Withycombe, is on island to meet with island airport managers, along with his Western Pacific regional staff and the Airport District office out of Honolulu. The FAA annually awards millions of dollars in grant funding for aviation safety and facility enhancement projects throughout the Pacific. In Guam’s case, key projects include extension of primary runway 6L/24R, installation of navigational equipment, demolition of former naval housing units, the Airport Geographic Information System, and Noise Mitigation of residences affected by airport operations.

Aviation is a high profile issue for all of Micronesia as key regional issues center around transportation and accessibility to build our regional economies. The current state of air transport and expansion of industries dependent on passenger and cargo movement are certain to be discussed at the Micronesian Chiefs Executive Summit sponsored by Governor Eddie B. Calvo being held concurrently this week on Guam.

“The FAA’s support and contribution to the development of our Airport is key to maintaining our role as the regional hub for Micronesia and in attaining rank in the top 10 US Airports for International Arrivals,” said Executive Manager Charles Ada II. In its December 2011 report, the US Department of Commerce, International Trade Association, Office of Travel and Tourism, ranked Guam 8th in terms of international arrivals. Source: www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2011-I-001/…/top_ports.xls.

The S&P Summary attributed the Airport’s key credit strengths to include:

• Its essential role in providing air service to the island with a strong origin and destination nature, with 94% of total passengers traveling to or from the island, and
• Its history of relatively stable financial performance despite volatility in passenger volumes produced by economic swings, weather events, and other factors that influence visitors to Guam.
• Debt service coverage levels no lower than 1.3x (of the required 1.25) since fiscal year 2006, despite a 14% passenger decline in that period.

The Authority’s debt service coverage was 1.5 for Fiscal Year 2011.

“Currently we are finalizing the update to the Airport Master Plan to identify the Airport’s current and future project needs to keep Guam on the forefront of the aviation industry as a regional aviation hub and the economic engine of our economy,” stated Charles H. Ada II, Executive Manager. “The announcement by Standard & Poor’s ensures the Airport is positioned to take advantage of any opportunities that may reduce interest rates for future financing or realize potential savings opportunities through a refinancing/restructuring of the 2003 Bond issuance.”

The official release of the Airport Revenue Bonds can be accessed at www.standardandpoors.com.

As the airport progresses towards implementing its Energy Performance Management Contract (approved in November 2011) that includes an overhaul of the airport’s air conditioning system, these inconveniences will soon be remedied. This project includes the installation of energy efficient air conditioning systems and lighting systems, and a maintenance and management program for the new systems.

“In response to the need to provide immediate relief, the Airport recently installed four each 5 tons package units to service the TSA Passenger Screening Lobby. Two additional 10 ton units are currently being installed in proximity to the boutiques and food court area” stated Mary C. Torres, Executive Manager.

The airport has also fast tracked the procurement of 3 new air handling units that will supply conditioned air to the passenger gates, airline lounges and other areas of the 2nd floor of the Main Terminal. Manufacture and delivery of the units is anticipated in March 2012 with installation and operation to occur by May 2012,” stated Torres. “Furthermore, we will successfully negotiation the $11million loan in the coming weeks to enable the airport full realization of this progressive modernization and energy efficient project,” added Torres.

The airport wishes to thank all tenants, passengers and visitors to the Terminal for your patience as you endured the inconvenience of warmer conditions at the Airport. We are working to resolve these inconveniences as soon as possible. Thank you.