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OVERVIEW OF THE GRENADA AIRPORTS AUTHORITY (GAA)
DEVELOPMENT PLANS & ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2OO6
The Grenada Airports Authority (GAA) is a Statutory
Body enacted by Act. N0. 9 of 1985, with the mandate to
manage the Point Salines International Airport (PSIA)
and any other airport in the State of Grenada.
The Point Salines International Airport became operational
in 1984 at that the time, was able to accommodate
the number of aircraft and passengers using the facility.
Following a Master Plan Review in 1996 conducted by
DIWI Consult International GmbH from Germany, it was
realized that the PSIA was becoming inadequate for
increases in aircraft and passenger movement, as well as
aviation activities. Consequently, the Master Plan advocated
that by the year 2005, the PSIA will have to expand
and upgrade its terminal and other facilities to maintain
an effective presence as an international airport and to
exist in the aviation market.
In the year 2006, the firm reality of the prognostication
announced by DIWI of Germany had taken effect. Since
its inception, PSIA has experienced the rapid growth in
aircraft movement. It has also seen the growth in volume
of both inbound and outbound passengers. There has also
been increased use of the public car park which is now
proving to be inadequate to service the public.
 The operations at PSIA like other international airports
worldwide are governed by standards mandated mandated
by the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) and most recently, the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA). In addition, the Grenada Airports
Authority is also conscious of the national preparation for
the International Cricket World Cup (ICWC) event to be
held in Grenada in 2007. As part of this national preparation,
the expansion and upgrade at PSIA needs to be
completed before the ICWC event.
In light of this, expansion and improvement of the PSIA
have become tremendously imperative. As such, the
Grenada Airports Authority has committed itself to undertake
such expansion and upgrade of the airport. The task
is referred to as the Airport Expansion Project, and is estimated
to cost in excess of EC$20M.
The improvement and expansion will focus on three (3)
main areas which can be simultaneously executed.
Departure Lounge Refurbishment Works and Car Park
Extension
Baggage Claims Extension and Refurbishment Works
Central Core Refurbishment and Associated Works
REHABILITATION AND EXPANSION PROJECTS
 PSIA would then be classified as a World Class facility. In
August 2006, works commenced on the rehabilitation and
expansion of the terminal building by the Contractor OMS
Associates Ltd. On completion the following will be realized:
Expansion of the check-in area
Provision to accommodate 16 airlines offices
Expansion of baggage claim area
New baggage handling area with conveyor belt and
inline x-ray service for checked baggage.
Banking facilities
Creation of a second departure lounge on the upper flow
to increase the holding capacity for departing passengers,
two (2) VIP lounges, Duty free shopping facilities, Snack
bar and restaurant.
Check-in Area
The Check-in Area will be expanded by approximately
7,000 sq ft into the existing car park. On completion,
provision will be made to accommodate 16 Airlines
Offices.
A total of fifteen (15) counters with thirty (30) checking
positions
New baggage handling area with two (2) conveyor
belts and inline x-ray machines
Banking facilities
Departure Lounge
The existing departure area will be remodeled to create
an additional 1000 sq ft seating arrangement for
departing passengers creating more comfort for the
traveling public. Other features will include:
New Government VIP lounge
Duty Free shopping facilities
Snack bar
A new departure lounge will be placed at the upper
floor of the terminal building extended into the waving
gallery. The new facility will consist of:
Two (2) VIP Lounges
Additional Restaurant/bar
Installation of Escalator, lift and staircase
Arrival Lounge
The existing arrival lounge will be remodeled and
expanded to provide approximately 6,600 sq ft of additional
space for the projected influx in passenger movement.
This new area will be redesigned with the repositioning
of the immigration desks and making provision
for the newly implementation “free movement of
space” among Caricom Nationals to ensure their
speedy processing.
 Bathroom Refurbishment Project
Over the past years, the state of the bathrooms at PSIA
has been a source of complaints from passengers and
users of the facility. Therefore the Authority saw it
imperative to immediately address this problem by
refurbishing all the public bathrooms located in the
arrival and departure lounge and along the concourse.
These bathrooms are now fitted with senor toilets and
faucets which will greatly assist ensuring they are kept
cleaned at all times. Upon entering the bathroom the
most noticeable feature is the coloured inserts representing
the national colours, red, gold and green.
New Public Car Park
The panorama of the daily events around the world
defines for us a new security environment of which
Point Salines International Airport (PSIA) is no exception;
since it modus operandi is dictated by the recommended
practices and procedures of the International
Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Transportation
Security Administration (TSA).
Arising from the security concerns about the close
proximity of the existing car park to the ramp as
expressed by TSA, the Authority identified an alternative
location opposite the monument for the new car
park. The new car park which is now under construction
measuring 72,256 square feet will be equipped
with modern facilities and will be able to accommodate
in excess of two hundred (200) cars.
STAFF CAR PARK
With security being one of the key areas of concern not
only for travelling public but also for staff, the Authority
was forced restrict the number of vehicles that were
allowed to park in the restricted area inside the compound
and in front the terminal building. As a result,
a new parking area was designated for the Airport
Taxis, Rental and staff on the north western side of the
Airport Terminal building leading to the La Source
Hotel.
With this new arrangement only six (6) Airport Taxis
are allowed to park on the curb to facilitate passengers,
based on rotation system, while only authorized vehicles
bearing the Restricted Passes are allowed to park
within the restricted area.
 Airport Roof Refurbishment
After the passages of both Hurricane Ivan and Emily the
roof of the terminal building suffered extensive damage,
forcing the Authority to undertake refurbishment works of
the entire roof measuring approximately 15,060 square
feet. The project consisted primarily of the removal of
existing roof membrane, replacement of concrete surface
to receive the torch on roofing materials, the application of
Bakor G100 base sheet glass and primer coating.
Also included in this Project was the replacement of roof
over the American Eagle Office and repairs to the roof of
the Tower building. The Authority is confident on completion
of all these works the issue of water leakage in
throughout the terminal building will be a thing of the
past.
 Building of a Canopy
The Authority has now added another feature to the
front of the terminal building with the construction of
a canopy which now serves as the official Passenger
Pick-up area. This new feature compliments the water
fountain serving as an attraction for arriving passengers
especially at nights.
 NEW VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT
On August 29th 2006, new vehicular traffic arrangements
were implemented at the airport resulting in the
re-directing of the flow of traffic away from the terminal
building. These measures were directly driven by
concerns highlighted during the last Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) Audit, which mandated
the elimination of non- airport traffic from in front of
the terminal building. Additionally
Cold Storage Facilities
The Government of Grenada initiated the development
of a National Export Strategy for Grenada which forms
part of the Economic Reform Programme, which was
hampered by the lack of refrigerated and cooling warehouse
facilities at the airport and as such the compromise
quality of exports products such as such as fish,
fresh fruits, and vegetables leaving Grenada.
With the availability of Cold Storages Facilities at
PSIA, the farming, fishing and horticulture industries
could now realized significant saving since their products
will now be delivered fresh at the intended designations.
 SECURITY MANAGER – INSP. JOHN MITCHELL  SENIOR SECURITY SUPERVISOR Emon Charles
ICAO UNIVERSAL SECURITY AUDIT
The Security arrangement at Point Salines International
Airport came under scrutiny during a five (5) day
Security Audit conducted by a three (3) man delegation
headed by Mr. Karen Zadoyan of the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) during the period
May 5th –10th 2006.
The Airports Authority has done the Nation proud having
received high commendations from the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on the successful
completion of its Security Audit. The Authority
was applauded for its excellent security arrangements
and general operations at PSIA.
 NEW X-RAY MACHINE
NEW X-RAY MACHINE
The Screening Officers at the Security Department is
now better equipped to undertaken increased passenger
flow with higher level of efficiency with the newly
purchased X-Ray Machine costing in excess of US$
70,000.
CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) PROJECT
-(IT)
The Emergency Recovery Project (ERP) was conceived
shortly after the September 11th 2001 attacks in the
United States of America, on the initiative of the Government
of Grenada and financed by the World Bank.
The objective of the project was to assist the Government
of Grenada in its efforts to reestablish and secure
the productive capacity of the tourism sector in the
aftermath of September 11th Terrorist attack in the
US. Among other things the Project seeks to provide
enhancement to port and airport security, necessary to
maintain secure transportation linkages to major markets
and to preserve the sub-region’s image as a safe
tourist destination.
To this end the Project provided the following:
Two (2) sets of x-ray machines and walkthrough
detectors together with handheld metal detectors to
screen persons entering the sterile areas of the airport.
Two (2) x-ray machines for the screening of checked
luggage
Narcotic and Bomb Sniffers
Perimeter Fencing
Access control and ID Bagging equipment and training
Two (2) vehicles for use at the Security Department
Radios
CCTV System
Among other equipment, technical and training
assistance
 INFORMATION DESK
INFORMATION DESK
An information desk was installed in the Departure
Lobby to provide information and assistance to the
travelling public. This desk is also used to promote
Cricket World Cup through the distribution of leaflets.
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