The Auguste George Airport at Anegada has been re-opened to international flights some five months after its “aerodrome certificate” was pulled. Photo: BVIAA

The pulling of the 'aerodrome certification' for the Auguste George Airport first come to Virgin Islands News Online's attention when passengers scheduled to board a VI Airlink flight destined for the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport from Anegada were well disappointed on April 17, 2013 when they were informed that they would have to resort to using the ferry to get off the sister island. The airport subsequently re-opened to domestic flights only. Photo: VINO/File

The announcement of the latest development was made by the BVI Airports Authority via a press release issued today, October 4, 2013 and further confirmed by Deputy Managing Director, Ms Diana D. Maduro.

According to the release, the “aerodrome certificate” for the Auguste George Airport in Anegada, was yesterday, Thursday October 3, 2013, reinstated and is now able to receive international flights once again.

Speaking with Virgin Islands News Online, Ms Maduro explained that aircrafts were required to first stop at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport before proceeding to Anegada.

Today, as they begin operations as a certificated aerodrome with a category 2 Rescue and Fire Fighting Service, aircrafts can make straight flights to Anegada’s airport.

“Before it was domestic flights, the difference now is international flights. For example, if a flight was proceeding from Puerto Rico to Angeada they would have had to stop at Beef Island first.”

Asked to comment on the reason for the long delay for the reinstatement of the “aerodrome certificate”, Ms Maduro said she was not at liberty to go into details but said the airport was inspected on Wednesday October 1, 2013 and was found to have all the necessary requirements in place, hence the re-certification.

“It was inspected by our regulator Air Safety Support International,” she confirmed.

Virgin Islands News Online was the first to report of the closure of the Auguste George Airport back in April. The BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) had then followed with a press release on April 25, 2013 informing the travelling public that the airport was reopened on April 24, 2013 for Domestic Flights only.

"The closure of the aerodrome on Wednesday 17th April 2013 came as a result of a suspension of the aerodrome’s certificate. The Auguste George Airport, Anegada is now operating as a non-certificated aerodrome with a category 2 Rescue and Fire Fighting service," the press release had stated.

The BVIAA had not clearly stated the reason or reasons for the aerodrome's certificate being suspended in the first place; however, initial reports were that the ill-prepared fire truck dispatched to the airport was the reason for the airport closing.

But according to reliable sources, while the issue of the fire truck was subsequently addressed, that of securing the perimeter of the airport had arisen resulting in it not being re-certified.

It was said that stray animals, including cows, were often on the airstrip in breach of the safety codes.