Organisational Overview
The Republic of the Marshall Islands Ports Authority (RMIPA) is responsible for the operations and maintenance of Amata Kabua/Marshall Islands International Airport (MAJ), located in the capitol of Majuro. Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technologies (MTCIT) is a supervisory agency of RMIPA, being responsible for transportation and communication policies in RMI. The following chart shows MTCIT organization chart:
Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) belongs to MTCIT. DCA is responsible for the aviation policy making and regulations in RMI. It has seven employees including the director of DCA. The following chart shows the DCA organization chart.
RMIPA was established by merging the Marshall Islands Airports Authority and Marshall Islands Ports Authority under the RMI Ports Authority Act in 2003. It is responsible for the establishment, maintenance and operations of the Amata Kabua International Airport (AKIA) and the ports at Majuro, Ebeye and Jaluit. RMIPA reports to the Minister of Transportation, Communications and Information Technologies and is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors appointed by the Cabinet. The day-to-day operations are managed by a Director and staff of approximately 80. The following chart shows RMIPA’s organization. Within RMIPA, operations of the airport are carried out by the departments under the Airport Manager, and maintenance of the airport facilities is carried out by the maintenance department under the Fleet & Facilities Manager. The department is also responsible for the maintenance of the seaports. Organisational chart of RIMPA:
List of authorised airfields
Airports Authorized Operations[KG1]
Air Marshall Islands (AMI)
Marshall Islands Aviation consists of a single Marshallese based domestic operator, Air Marshall Islands (AMI) and has no international airline. Amata Kabua Airport (AKIA) in Majuro is the only civilian international airport in RMI and is the base for Air Marshall Islands. AMI provides a weekly service to outer islands with biweekly services to Kwajalein/Ebeye.
AMI provides domestic air transport services from AKIA to Kwajalein four times a week, and to 23 airfields on other atolls and islands once a week or biweekly:
CODE |
ATOLL |
---|---|
MAJ |
Majuro |
KWA |
Kwajalein |
UIT |
Jaluit |
WTE |
Wotje |
AIC |
Airok |
KIO |
Kili |
WJA |
Woja |
MIJ |
Mili |
EBO |
Ebon |
MAV |
Maloelap |
MJE |
Majkin |
LIK |
Likiep |
LML |
Lae |
AUL |
Aur |
NDK |
Namdrik |
AIM |
Ailuk |
UTK |
Utirik |
MJB |
Mejit |
UJE |
Ujae |
EAL |
Elenak |
WTO |
Wotho |
JAT |
Jabat |
EJT |
Enejet |
JEJ |
Jeh |
KBT |
Kaben |
ENT |
Enewetak |
RNP |
Rongelap |
BII |
Bikini |
Helicopter Operations
With the continued increase in tuna fishing, Majuro Airport has become the RMI base for helicopters servicing the fishing fleet.
The helicopters are privately owned by Vertols System Ltd and are under contract by tuna vessel owners as observation platforms. Helicopters are generally MB 500 with 400 km range capacity with a 900 kg payload. A maintenance hanger is adjacent to the Amata Kabua Airport.
For more information on government agency and airport company contact information, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.5 Airport Companies Contact List.
Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft
The Directorate of Civil Aviation is the supervising authority for aircraft operations into and out of the Marshall Islands. Kwajalein Base is restricted and its mission as missile defence precludes it from operation as a general US airbase. Communication and liaison with the base commander will be required to make a further determination.
Aircraft certification and operational requirements in Majuro are governed by the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA) and are specified in the Marshall Islands Civil Aviation Regulations (MICAR). Several chapters of the MICAR are applicable dependent on the aircraft type and the intended scope of operation. Operation of a foreign registered aircraft is possible.
The process should begin with an aircraft landing request to the DCA, describing your organization, the owner/operator of aircraft, intended type of operation (private, charter, scheduled, etc.) and intended aircraft model and/or type. The certification process can be relatively quick to allow commencement of operations, particularly for non-commercial purposes such as for surveys, disaster relief, emergency response and similar programs.
Air Charter
There is one national airline, i.e. Air Marshall Islands AMI) and three foreign airlines operate scheduled air transport in RMI. Types of aircraft used in RMI are shown below:
Airline |
Aircraft type |
---|---|
Air Marshall Islands |
DHC-8-100 (A-III), Do-228-212 (A-II) |
United Airlines |
B-737-800 (D-III) |
Nauru Airlines |
B-737-300 (C-III) |
Asia Pacific Airlines* |
B757-200F (C-IV) |
*Currently suspended
International services are provided at AKIA and Kwajalein International Airport. United Airlines operate four round trip a week between Guam and Honolulu with intermediate stops in Chuuk, Ponhpei, Kosrae, Kwajalein and AKIA. Nauru Airlines operate three times a week from Nauru. Asia Pacific Airlines (currently suspended) used to operate freighters from Guam to Honolulu via AKIA.
Air Marshall Islands has three aircraft available for charter in humanitarian response situations:
- Dornier 228
REGISTRATION: V7-9207
AIRPORT: PKMJ (MAJURO, RMI)
MODEL TYPE: Do-228-212
FUEL TYPE: JET A-1
YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 1991
FUEL BURN PER HOUR: 560/PPH
MONTH OF MANUFACTURE: OCTOBER
MAX FUEL: 630.3 USG (USABLE)
SEATS: 18
TAXI FUEL: UNK
CRUISING SPEED: 170 KNOTS
MINIMUM LANDING FUEL: UNK
PAYLOAD: 5,113LBS. (MAX -FUEL WT.)
DEFAULT DROUND TIME: 15-30 MIN.
MTOW: 14,110 LBS
- Dornier 228
REGISTRATION: V7-1512
AIRPORT: PKMJ (MAJURO, RMI)
MODEL TYPE: Do-228-212
FUEL TYPE: JET A-1
YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 1997
FUEL BURN PER HOUR: 560/PPH
MONTH OF MANUFACTURE: JUNE
MAX FUEL: 630.3 USG (USABLE)
SEATS: 18
TAXI FUEL: UNK
CRUISING SPEED: 165 KNOTS
MINIMUM LANDING FUEL: UNK
PAYLOAD: 5,206 LBS. (MAX -FUEL WT.)
DEFAULT DROUND TIME: 15-30 MIN.
MTOW: 14,110 LBS
- DASH 8
REGISTRATION: V7-0210
AIRPORT: PKMJ (MAJURO, RMI)
MODEL TYPE: DHC8-102
FUEL TYPE: JET A-1
YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 1990
FUEL BURN PER HOUR: UNK
MONTH OF MANUFACTURE: MAY
MAX FUEL: 835 USG (USABLE)
SEATS: 34
TAXI FUEL: UNK
CRUISING SPEED: 190 KNOTS
MINIMUM LANDING FUEL: UNK
PAYLOAD: 10,672 LBS. (MAX -FUEL WT.)
DEFAULT DROUND TIME: 15-30 MIN.
MTOW: 34,500 LBS