Archive for 2006
On December 30, 2006 at approximately 16.25 pm a twin engine Piper Aztec aircraft (PA32) registration N3332W en route from St. Barths to St. Maarten ditched west of the Caravansarai hotel in the Maho Bay.
The sole person on board Captain R. Hudson was rescued by personnel of a passing pleasure craft that saw the aircraft in trouble ditched into the sea along with personnel of the island fire brigade. Captain Hudson was brought to the coast guard station at the Simpson bay bridge where he was checked by ambulance and medical doctor.
The Air Traffic Control center at the Princes Juliana International Airport activated the emergency response at the airport rescue and fire services and security department, who initiated the emergency call-out procedure and notified all relevant authorities.
All pertinent emergency response groups amongst which local police, local fire & rescue department sea rescue and the coast guard along with PJIA management staff were activated and worked together to coordinate and effectively to handle the incident.
After confirmation from the captain and from St. Barths airport, that there were no other persons besides the pilot on board, sea rescue operations, whereby three (3) divers were on standby in the event that more persons on board the aircraft, were called off at 17:45 pm.
In consultation with the local chief of police lt. Governor F. Richards, head of the island disaster management committee and the members of the EOC, the rescue operations where called off at 18.15 pm.
Simpson Bay, December 30, 2006
drs. E.B. Holiday, President
Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V.
Opening Address
On The Occasion Of The Inauguration Of The New
Of The
By
drs.
President of PJIAE N.V.
Your Majesty, Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Evening,
I am very pleased and honored, on behalf of the entire airport community, to extend a very warm welcome to our Queen, Your Majesty Queen Beatrix on this special occasion. We sincerely appreciate Your Majesty’s presence and I therefore hereby express my thanks to you for according us the magnificent honor to share this landmark achievement with us and for accepting to officiate the inauguration of the New Terminal Building as your Mother, Her Royal Highness Princess Juliana did for the original airport facilities in 1944. This shows that our airport has special ties with our Royal Family, ties we look forward to continuing.
This official opening ceremony is an important milestone in the history of St. Maarten because we are gathered to officially open the best airport in the Region and beyond. We of St. Maarten’s Airport highly appreciate the presence of so many distinguished guests who came from our neighboring Caribbean islands, from the Americas and from Europe to share in this moment with us.
This evening’s inauguration of the New Terminal Building gives the airport and the community of St. Maarten/St. Martin a unique opportunity to celebrate our strength and to reflect on and pay tribute to the values and spirit of the people who have helped build these facilities, and that we will. Above all it is an occasion for dedication to service for achievement, one that testifies to the potential of our people.
This New Terminal Building along with its supporting facilities, such as the Air Traffic Control tower to the North West of us, represents an investment of some 100 million US dollars or 18% of our islands GDP. It accommodates some 1.7 million passengers a year and provides employment for some 1000 persons making the airport one of St. Maarten most strategic assets.
Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we stand in a festive mood before a truly imposing St. Maarten structure and St. Maarten institution, one that did not come about without challenge.
o The restructuring of the corporate and organizational structure along with the development and implementation of the required business and commercial approach, which were necessary to lay the foundation, which we stand on tonight, like all change, did not come without resistance;
o The translation of our wishes as operators and those of our airlines and other users into design and construction drawings by the Netherlands Airport Consultants, NACO, involved complicated and meticulous work;
o The difficulties of engineering a technically viable project of this magnitude were compounded by rising steel prices, thereby making the international tendering process for the engagement of a qualified contractor, as was found in Koop Holding Europe, even more challenging;
o The complications of planning and structuring a financially feasible project to raise debt financing, as a first time issuer on the international capital market, against the backdrop of the threat of terrorism and of an aviation industry in financial crisis, need no explanation, except that they were overcome, thanks to the confidence of the RBTT Merchant bank in the airport and in St. Maarten;
o And the critical task of selecting a strong and balance project team, comprised of individuals with diverse and sometimes conflicting personalities, to steer, manage and oversee the execution and delivery of the project according to specifications and within budget.
are but some of the challenges we have had to face, and which deserve more in dept treatment than can be given on an occasion like this.
Tonight however I am pleased and proud to stand before you and state that thanks to the commitment to our vision “En Route to New Horizons” and cognizant of the airports role as the engine of growth for the island; the personnel, external assistance, management and supervisory boards of directors - with the support of our Shareholders and the Government of St. Maarten -forged forward and overcame these challenges.
And as we celebrate, reflect and pay tribute it is equally important to project and envision the meaning of today’s celebration for our island’s future. With our terminal building designed to handle some 2.5 million passengers a year, today we can look to the future knowing that we have an international airport, fully equipped to cater to the service level demands of travelers and to accommodate the projected growth in regional tourism over the next 20 years, in a safe and secure manner. Yes we have an airport second to none with a beautiful modern exterior and uniquely outfitted interior, including jet bridges, an exciting airport shopping mall, expanded aprons, Common Use Terminal Equipment and 100% hold baggage screening, all within a colorful Caribbean theme of Sun, Sand and Sea.
Today’s inauguration of the New Terminal Building of St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport therefore, represents a decisive step to solidify St. Maarten’s position among today’s leaders in tourism and travel. This after almost a decade of thorough planning, dedicated execution, hard work and complete commitment to our vision and mission.
In closing I must publicly thank the great team of airport staff, airport officials, consultants, contractors, financiers and government officials who were instrumental to the realization of this St. Maarten landmark. I therefore ask all to stay on to witness and help pay tribute to these persons later this evening.
It is with these words of thanks and with the full significance of what this New Terminal Building means for our community, that I take this opportunity to invite all to participate in the further building of this St. Maarten Institution; The Princess Juliana International Airport; Your Regional Leader and the premier Gateway to the world for our dual nation island and the North Eastern Caribbean.
I thank you
The schedule for completion of the phase II works called for a phased handover by the contractor to PJIAE of various areas of and systems in the new terminal building for occupancy and use by airlines, concessionaires and PJIAE through September 15, 2006. Based on our overall inventory of the facilities on mentioned date it can be concluded that all areas, except for the airport executive offices, are available for furnishing by airlines and concessionaires. Essential systems such as the power supply to and the air-conditioning system in the building have been connected and turned on. Other essential systems such as the baggage handling system and the passenger bridges have been turned over and tested. The contractor has been requested to provide a revised schedule for the items such as the access control system and the escalators and elevators that still need completion. As a result the new terminal building is ready for tenants to move in but it is not yet ready for operations.
In fact the migration of the existing and future tenants (Airline, Retailers, Car rentals, and government agencies) to the new facility has commenced as various tenants have been granted access to their offices and shops to begin fitting out their spaces. The airlines offices and ticket sale counters are complete, allowing them to move in and start setting up their offices. Some airlines have already received the keys to their offices while others are to obtain theirs this week. The concessionaires outlets were handed over some weeks ago and the outfitting of their shops are in various stages of completion. Car rentals sales booths are ready and the offices and work areas for government agencies are available for occupancy.
With construction of the structures and installations of the systems almost completed we have now entered into the transition phase of the planning, which includes moving from the existing to the new terminal and training of personnel to arrive at operational readiness of the new terminal. Given the amount of new systems in the new terminal it is essential that all personnel are well prepared on the new systems and environment. This process is a major logistical and timing challenge given that the preparation of the new terminal to become operational is taking place while maintaining full operations in the old terminal.
PJIAE considering the pending works to be done by contractor and the various tenants is confident that it will, together with all parties involved, be able to activate operations of the new terminal and related facilities in the course of October 2006. The exact date of operations will be announced based on the level of readiness of all parties, this in view of the importance of a good start from a customer service perspective.
Simpson Bay, September 18, 2006
Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company
Juliana Airport (June 7, 2006) – Work on the second phase of the airport master plan which includes an expanded new terminal building (NTB), a fixed based operators terminal (FBO), extended aprons, enlarged car parking, and related support facilities is progressing well and nearing completion, drs. Eugene Holiday, president of PJIAE said. Persons visiting the site can already see the real form and get a true picture of most of the major elements that will comprise the finished work due to open for operations in Mid September 2006.
Except for the frontage roads construction activities on the landside mainly involves finishing works. The main security walls separating the landside from the airside have been erected and the designed frontage walls to NTB are practically completed. Further, the holding areas for taxi operators on the west and for tour busses and car rental shuttles to the east are being built, which will allow for organized transport services to/from the airport. On airside works have progressed to the extent that the new fuel hydrant system for the fueling of the aircraft has been installed under the extended aircraft parking. This will ensure efficient and expeditious fueling of aircraft at PJIAE, which is essential to the effectiveness of airport operations. Moreover, at the end of May 2006 the old and the new aircraft parking aprons were joined resulting in the physical connection of the old to new the facilities. The joining of the aprons symbolizes the start of the transition from the old to the new facilities, drs. Holiday stated.
Construction on exterior of the NTB is substantially complete except for some finishing works. Work on the interior is currently the main focus of the construction activities, including, the completion of tiling, installation of mechanical and electrical systems (elevators, escalators, air conditioning), fitting of ceilings and finishing of walls. Critical systems such as the baggage conveyor belts with advance security features have been installed and tested in the specially designed basement. This system places PJIAE at the forefront of aviation security in the region, drs. Holiday said. In addition, check-in counters have been installed while the assembling of airlines sales counters is almost complete. The four passenger jet bridges have arrived on site and installation has started Moreover, some special effects in the arrival corridor depicting the PJIAE local sense of place theme “sun, sand and sea” to highlight the characteristic of the island for arriving tourists is already visible. The local theme is also starting to take shape in the departure lounge with the design of the roof of the retail and food and beverage outlets.
Reaching this stage has not been without difficulty or challenge. Namely, issues such as the temporarily unavailability of material on island (gravel, sand and cement), shortage of manpower and required work adjustments (screed floor problems and practical changes) demanded significant attention and time. Overall these challenges have been addressed and managed to limit their effect on the progress on the work which is to be delivered for the start of operations in Mid September instead of early August as was originally planned, drs. Holiday said.
Meanwhile we have initiated an array of activities to prepare for a smooth transfer of the operations of airlines, concessionaires, car rental companies and others to the new facilities. Rental contracts with most of the users have been signed and specific plans for the fitting out of their respective locations are being worked out for implementation. Already some tenants have started with the physical fitting out of their outlets. This means that in the next few weeks the variety of outlets, with their own specific designs and features will start to take shape. Drs. Eugene Holiday stated that, this process is expected to be a complex and challenging one as we move towards the operational opening date which will be established in close consultation with the users. This because it is essential to ensure that all systems, most of which will be new, are fully tested between now and the day of the operational opening and that all players are fully ready. Moreover, it should be noted that operations in the new facilities will be significantly different than those which we are currently accustomed to. As a result all players at Juliana will need to undergo a major shift in thinking and approach to ensure the success of the new and upgraded facility.
In conclusion, construction of the new airport terminal building and related facilities is well underway, bringing with it real and new business opportunities and challenges in a state-of-the-art gateway which will anchor St. Maarten’s role as a leader in the North Eastern Caribbean in the provision of airport services. The 27,000m2 building and related facilities which are being constructed, within the allotted budgets and in line with quality standards, will double the airport’s capacity. It will stand out as a symbol of progress with a unique blend of modern architecture and Caribbean style aimed at taking St. Maarten and its people ‘En Route to New Horizons”, drs. Holiday stated.
June 7, 2006, Simpson bay
Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V.
The Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company has extended an open invitation to the general public to visit the construction site of its future terminal building.
A tour of the future facilities of St. Maarten’s gateway to the world will be possible on May 7th 2006, between 2.00pm and 5.30pm.
PJIAE President drs. Eugene Holiday explained that the tours are part of the airport company’s efforts to keep stakeholders informed of developments. “Within an organization it is essential to have clear objectives and to communicate them so that everyone can share in the same vision and operate from the same set of principles. PJIAE believes that a well-informed community is better able to make decisions regarding its future. And at the same time we are proud of the development at our airport and want the entirety of St. Maarten to share in our excitement as we remain En Route to New Horizons,” drs. Holiday said.
Visitors who tour the construction site will get a first-hand update on the rapid development of the new facility which is set to open in the fall of this year. Representing the largest investment in the sustainability of St. Maarten’s tourism industry, the new terminal building is a state-of-the-art facility that leaps aviation in the region fast forward.
The four-level, 27,000 square-meter facility will nearly double PJIA’s passenger capacity, enabling the airport to accommodate 2.5 million passengers per year. It will be fully air-conditioned, have a spacious check-in area with 46 check-in positions, six passenger security screening points, and 10 immigration and passport control points making for speedier visitor processing, as well as 100% hold baggage screening system with explosives detection capability. The facility will boast of a spacious, comfortable departure lounge, and will have available all facilities users may need, such as: banking/ATM, postal, Internet, taxi and customer information booths.
Once completed the new terminal building will anchor and enhance St. Maarten’s position as a preferred tourist destination and PJIA’s position as the premier gateway in the North Eastern Caribbean. RBTT Merchant Bank is the principal financier of the project.
Directions on where to congregate to be able to take part in the tours will be announced through the media.
AIRPORT (February 10, 2006) — Governor Frits Goedgedrag of the Netherlands Antilles and the Lt. Governors of the five island territories toured the Phase II construction site of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) on Friday February 10, 2006. “In general they all seemed impressed with St. Maartens’ new airport terminal building and interested in further developments,” said drs. Eugene B. Holiday, President of the PJIA Operating Company said afterward.
The Governor and the Lt. Governors are in St. Maarten for their three-day meeting that started on Wednesday. It is the first time the dignitaries received a tour of the facility as a group. They were given a full tour of the new facility and received an update on the progress of the construction. “The gentlemen were very interested, as we could tell from their questions,” said drs. Holiday.
The PJIAE President reported furthermore that the Phase II of the Airport Expansion Masterplan is moving ahead at a favorable pace. “We’re well on target and we expect the handing over of our new facility to be in July 2006. Therefore, the preparations for the migration from our current building to the new facility is also well underway,” he said.
About PJIAE’s Expansion Master Plan Phase II
Phase II of the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company (PJIAE) NV Expansion Plan was kicked off on June 18, 2004 and should be completed by late 2006. This US$ 87 million project features the construction of a new airport terminal, the rerouting of a new road around this facility and additional aircraft and vehicle parking capacity. It also includes the addition of the airport’s integrated Air Traffic Control and Radar Facility.
The 28,000 square-meter addition will nearly double the size and passenger capacity of the current facility: it will be able to accommodate 2.5 million passengers per year - 1 million more than it can now. 54,000 square meters of land was reclaimed from the Simpson Bay lagoon for its construction. Koop Holding Europe, headquartered in Groningen, the Netherlands is the main contractor for the project; Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) has been engaged to conduct supervision.
By executing Phase II, PJIAE is ensuring continued compliance with the increasing international safety and security standards, to meet future traffic demand and to improve the level of service at the airport. Once completed the Phase II developments will also anchor and enhance St. Maarten’s position as a preferred tourist destination and PJIA’s position as the premier gateway in the North Eastern Caribbean. RBTT Merchant Bank is the principal financier of the project.