Persons who have questions about wind data and runway alignment of the Argyle International Airport (AIA) will soon be able to make these queries at a public forum.

Chief executive officer of the International Airport Development Company (IADC) Dr Rudy Matthias, speaking at a recent media briefing at the AIA, said that a representative from the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO){{more}} will soon visit St Vincent and the Grenadines to re-evaluate the collected data that has been gathered over the years and hold a public discussion on the analysis.

Matthias said that while the airport alignment is in fact 04/22, a number of persons have been saying that this is not the case, so when the representative of the CMO visits, he will answer questions on all these issues.

The CMO was chosen to host the public forum, as it is an independent organization.

Also, in an attempt to get local air traffic personnel ready for the opening of the AIA, the IADC last week held a five-day air traffic management refresher training programme.

The refresher training programme, which was held at the AIA terminal building, was hosted by the IADC and the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines while the training was done by Cary Price, an instructor from the Trinidad and Tobago based Civil Aviation Training Centre.

Taking part in the training were air traffic controllers from mainland St Vincent, as well as the Grenadines. The training focused on the theories governing the provision of air traffic services, while more training is scheduled for October 13 to 29 at the Civil Aviation Centre in Trinidad and Tobago.

Last week’s training served to refresh participants on the standards, recommended practices and local procedures pertaining to the three basic functions of the air traffic service. These functions are air traffic control service, flight information service and alerting service. The training focussed on key areas such as separation and emergency procedures and the safety management system.