Marshalls Domestic Air Service Grinds To A Halt MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Marianas Variety, Apr. 14, 2014) — Both Air Marshall Islands or AMI planes are grounded waiting for parts and at least one of them is not expected to be flying until early May. The larger 36-seat Dash-8 was expected to be back in the air over the weekend, while the workhorse 19-seat Dornier, which normally services most of the outer islands, has been grounded since the end of last month awaiting landing gear equipment, and isn’t expected to be operational until early next month. A lack of funds to purchase needed spare parts continues to hurt the government’s national airline, resulting in longer grounding periods for aircraft that undermine the airline’s ability to generate revenue. The Dash-8 was grounded last Saturday when the Directorate of Civil Aviation or DCA did not approve another extension of time for installation a rudder pressure caution indicator. DCA officials indicated that they needed to see documents confirming the Dash-8 part has been ordered, is paid for and has an expected arrival date before a second time extension can be provided under DCA regulations. “Under our specifications, AMI is allowed only one time extension (for this part),” said DCA official Elmer Langbata earlier last week. AMI general manager Jefferson Barton said Wednesday the airline wired a $16,000 payment for the Dash-8 part that day and was hopeful that with this documentation, the DCA would allow the plane back in the air. For the Dornier, replacement of landing gear equipment is required after a certain number of landing cycles or flight hours. It is among aircraft equipment that has a known replacement schedule, but AMI didn’t have the $50,000 needed to purchase it in advance of the deadline. The national government approved a $100,000 emergency subsidy late last month, which has allowed for purchase of the landing gear equipment. “It is expected here late this month or early next month,” Barton said. But, he added, this is only one of many parts needed, “and we don’t have the money to buy them.” Barton said AMI’s woes stem largely from the poor quality of outer island runways that are “killing the planes.” The key for the airline is to get outer island runways improved as soon as possible, he said. “We’re operating on dirt roads,” Barton said. “You can’t drive a pickup truck at 30mph on the air strips, but our planes land at 100mph.”
Posted on: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 01:06:07 +0000