The Regional Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Ana Cunha, stated in Ponta Delgada that the Government of the Azores has fulfilled the commitments it has proposed to improve the operation of airports.
 
The government official spoke to journalists after a hearing at the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs of the Legislative Assembly, where she was heard on two separate petitions concerning the operation of Faial and Pico airports, respectively. On the occasion, Ana Cunha mentioned some of the improvements already by the XII Regional Government.
 
Regarding the airport of Pico Island, the Secretary recalled that the grooving of the runway was carried out in order to facilitate the flow of water and create greater adhesion to runway. According to her, this intervention "clearly corresponds to a political commitment that is being fulfilled in the first year of this legislative period." She also informed that the Government plans to install an ILS navigation aid system in the near future.
 
"Even the opinions submitted to the Committee on Economic Affairs regard both investments as an improvement that will be proven once they will be in full operation," Ana Cunha said, noting that the Grooving and ILS installations will reduce the number of contingencies and cancellations at Pico airport.
 
As for the ILS system, the Secretary stated that certification is dependent on certification from third parties, but assured that it will happen "very soon." As she informed, the Grooving intervention is scheduled to start in February with a completion period of 90 days. "Hence, this will be a work of relative short duration. It will start very soon," said the government official.
 
Concerning Horta airport, Ana Cunha recalled that, upon the privatisation of ANA Aeroportos, we lost the opportunity to secure the expansion of the runway.
 
"We have an airport infrastructure that is private and is governed by private interests," said the government official.
 
In this context, the Secretary stressed that the Azorean Government has been working to ensure that an investment is made to improve the operating conditions of Horta runway with the National Government as well as with the concessionaire ANA Aeroportos SA.
 
"I would like to mention a very recent event. The Government was called to pronounce itself one as one of the entities consulted on the strategic plan of that company, which does include the expansion of the runway," noted Ana Cunha.
 
However, the Secretary stressed that the Regional Government has provided a clear and concrete response to some of the issues claimed in the petitions, such as the implementation of the RISE system.
 
"Recalling that SATA has already installed the RISE approach system in its aircraft fleet, which allows a significant improvement in operating conditions," the government official mentioned that the airline believes that this system will reduce cancellations or other irregularities.