Munda International Airport in the Western Province is approaching the final stages of its Defects Notification Period (DNP) for two key activities: the new terminal building and the runway, taxiway and apron overlay.
These works, completed on 23 September 2023 and 9 October 2023 respectively, have been funded by the World Bank through the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP) and implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA).
“The DNP is a critical phase in infrastructure projects, ensuring that any potential issues are identified and resolved promptly,” a statement from SIRAP office said.
“This process is vital for maintaining safety, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and enhancing passenger satisfaction and the longevity of infrastructure,” the statement added.
It said a dedicated team, consisting of members from the SIRAP Project Support Team, Western Provincial Government Building Inspection Personnel, Supervision Consultant, and the Contractors (China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation for the terminal building and China Harbour Engineering Company Limited for the runway) conducted the third quarterly and fourth DNP joint inspection from 7-9 August 2024.
“For the terminal building, the inspection focussed on following up on outstanding defects yet to be rectified by the contractor, along with a thorough assessment of the entire building,” the statement explained.
“Overall, all previously identified defects have been corrected by the contractor, with only minor issues remaining under review for further action.
“For the runway, the final DNP joint inspection included friction testing and a comprehensive assessment of the runway, taxiway, and apron overlay.”
The inspection confirmed that all previously identified defects have been addressed, and the final friction test results indicate that the runway’s friction performance is satisfactory.
Permanent Secretary for MCA, Alwyn Danitofea, emphasized the importance of these inspections.
“These inspections are vital for ensuring that the airport remains safe and operationally efficient,” Danitofea said.
“Once any defects are identified, they will be promptly addressed by the responsible teams,” he stated.
In addition to the SIRAP investments at Munda International Airport, the Second Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP2) is overseeing several other significant activities.
These include the construction of four new bridges in Malaita (Kolofe1, Kolofe2, Su’u Harbor, and Bira Bridges), upgrades to Honiara and Munda airports and Santa Cruz (Lata) Airfield, investments in air navigation systems in Makira-Ulawa and Temotu provinces, and support for regional airport maintenance.
Munda International Airport is Solomon Islands’ second international airport.
It was originally built by Japanese forces during World War II and further developed by the U. S. Naval Construction Battalions 24 and 73 following its capture.
After the war, the airfield became a commercial airport for local flights. In 2015, a New Zealand government aid and development project significantly upgraded the field to an international airport.
The upgrade included the removal of a large amount of unexploded ordnance left behind by vacating Japanese and US forces.
Although there were no international flights scheduled by 2019, the main economic purpose of the upgrade is to serve as an alternate field for international flights to Honiara International Airport, significantly reducing the fuel load and improving the economics of the flight.
Prior to the Munda upgrade, a flight from Brisbane to Honiara had to carry sufficient fuel to return to Brisbane because that was the nearest viable alternate.
A newly-constructed international terminal building for the airport was opened last year.