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Posted By: Magnum Belize Caye Caulker airstrip - 09/08/04 03:43 PM
Silk Painter,

Have you any update on the airstrip at Caye Caulker? Do you think it will be open for the holidays?
Posted By: silkpainter Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 09/10/04 02:55 AM
It will definintely open before the high season starts.
Posted By: silkpainter Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 10/07/04 11:54 AM
I just received this information from a friend who met with the company repairing airstrip yesterday morning. Equipment supposed to be here on Thursday (Oct 9). Contract allows for 14 weeks however, GOB has asked that it be completed in 8 weeks. One contractor for entire project as opposed to last info which was Cisco would pave.

Testing for sand compaction -- will need appx 4,000 cb yds of sand -- if Caye Caulker sand tests out, will dredge and stockpile at end of airstrip. If not will have to haul sand from mainland which will delay the project.

So -- keep your fingers crossed that repairs start right away -- will keep you updated.
Posted By: Lan Sluder/Belize First Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 10/08/04 12:19 AM
I'm confused (which is not unusual.)

--Lan Sluder
Posted By: silkpainter Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 10/08/04 03:15 AM
I'm tired tonight, so I hope this will make sense. I just arrived back on Caye Caulker from the BTIA annual general meeting in Belize City.
Soon after the closing of the airstrip, the GOB Dept. of Works came on island with heavy equipment and tore up the old paving, crushed it and made it into roads back in the Puesta Del Sol government housing project. They graded and widened the airstrip, and there it sat for a couple of months, unpaved, waiting for the funds to be released by Central government. The funds have just been released and the paving contracted out now. Now they will start the concrete portion of the project. Although the airstrip was closed, private planes have been landing and taking off. The airstrip is in better condition right now, even without concrete than before the project began.
--Lee
Posted By: papashine Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 10/14/04 06:54 PM
We flew over The Caulker airstrip yesterday, actually saw some work in progress,... some light at the end of the tunnel!
Posted By: Magnum Belize Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 11/16/04 11:40 PM
Any updates on the airstrip?
Posted By: silkpainter Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 11/21/04 01:19 AM
Well, they are working on it, there are giant mounds of sand on the eastern side of the airstrip and lots of big equipment moving around.
Posted By: silkpainter Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 12/08/04 02:16 AM
CAYE CAULKER AIRPORT NEWS FLASH: According to Ms Barbara Miller and Ms Flora Ancona of Tropic Air Operations, the Caye Caulker Airport is planning to reopen (weather permit to continue working) on Dec 17, 2004. Specific details will be send out by Tropic Air and Maya Island Air.
Posted By: klcman Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 12/08/04 03:58 AM
had a great golf cart race out there a few days ago......
Posted By: silkpainter Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 12/09/04 05:44 AM
Its going to be more like Dec 22 now, as they had originally planned, there are a few more days of earthmoving, the asphalt will start going down early next week. There is a norther moving in the next few days with rain predicted. If the weather had held out there would have been hope for an early completion.
Posted By: Magnum Belize Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/08/05 04:46 PM
So is there any update on the air strip?
Posted By: papashine Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/09/05 01:13 PM
Its opening very soon, tropic is fixing up thier office, just waiting for the last phase of paving.
Posted By: silkpainter Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/10/05 01:45 AM
They are saying Feb 17 now.
Posted By: RICH GUY Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/10/05 04:30 AM
As I was flying to San Pedro yesterday I looked out the window and saw dirt where the airport should be. It's not a big problem, caravans can land on it. Not sure why they don't.
Posted By: silkpainter Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/10/05 05:17 PM
What looks like dirt from the air is gravel.
Posted By: Lan Sluder/Belize First Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/11/05 02:00 AM
I love it. The finish date was going to be "well before high season." Then Dec. 17. Then Dec. 22. Then early February. Then Feb. 17.

It's all so Belize. And people actually believe this stuff?

--Lan Sluder
Posted By: NYgal Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/11/05 03:55 AM
I think it's happening right on time.
BELIZE time smile

Ya gotta love it. I sure do laugh

Keep us updated Silk wink
Posted By: silkpainter Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/11/05 05:38 AM
If they had told us this in May when they closed it... they would have had to run for their lives.
Posted By: Magnum Belize Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/18/05 10:29 PM
Is the Caye Caulker airstrip open yet?????
Posted By: papashine Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/19/05 05:36 PM
Strong possibility it will be open Mon 21 Feb.
Posted By: silkpainter Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/21/05 12:00 AM
GREAT NEWS: the Caye Caulker Airport will open tomorrow Feb 21, 05. There are no scheduled flights right now, but Tropic Air will be flying into Caye Caulker Feb 21. If people book from other destinations they will be able to land here.

On Tuesday Feb 22nd there will be scheduled flights.

Maya Island Air has not announced their flight schedule yet.

Please check with the Tropic Air's at 226-0040 for more information.

The official ceremonies for the CC Airport opening will be March 2, 05.

The above info was provided by Mrs. L. Young Caye Caulker Tropic Air Manager and the Alberto Villanueva, CCVC Chairman.
Posted By: papashine Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/21/05 06:49 PM
The Airstrip is open and Tropic Air is accepting reservations.
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 02/21/05 08:24 PM
Congrads to Alberto Villanueva and the entire crew that worked SO HARD to get the strip opened!!!!!!!
Great job you guys!
Cheerz,
Vicki Nichols
Posted By: silkpainter Re: Caye Caulker airstrip - 03/03/05 03:29 PM
Press Office Government of Belize

Caye Caulker Airstrip - A Reality!

02 March, 2005 - Caye Caulker -
A modernized and much-improved airstrip, reflecting a BZE $809,000
investment from the Government of Belize into the local economy of Caye
Caulker, was re-opened today.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Godfrey Smith; Minister of Works, Hon. Jose
Coye; Minister of Health, Hon. Vildo Marin, Belize Rural South Hon.
Manuel Heredia Area Representative, Chairman Alberto Villanueva Jr. and
the village council, and residents of Caye Caulker Village and visitors
gathered at the south-end area of Caye Caulker to witness the re-opening
of the much needed infrastructure.

In his address, Chairman Alberto Villanueva Jr., said that the people of
Caye Caulker are very grateful for the massive investment which is also
a sign of confidence from the Government. Villanueva explained that Caye
Caulker, with its unique laid-back atmosphere, has shown great potential
and has become a booming destination in the tourism industry coupled
with construction growth. "This is an indication of the Government of
Belize's investment to the tourism product and the development of Caye
Caulker," he stated.

Hon. Marin, Hon. Smith, Hon. Coye and former Area Representative Patty
Arceo also gave addresses recognizing Government's commitment to the
people of Caye Caulker. Hon. Coye noted that in investing in Caye
Caulker, Government is not only giving back to the community but is also
helping to create an enabling environment for the productive sector to
enhance the society.

Following the ceremony, Chairman of the Belize Airport Authority, Hon.
Maxwell Samuels cut the ribbon declaring the airstrip open.

In June of last year the airstrip was closed as a result of its
deteriorated condition caused by the 2003 rainy season. The Ministry of
Works quickly prepared a new design and began scarifying the runway. The
surface was re-compacted which made it utilizable for emergency cases.

According to Cadet Henderson, Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Works,
the new design sought to redesign the center line profile to improve its
gradient and riding quality; widen the airstrip by 33% to 40 feet;
reconstruct its apron and drain area; and rebuild its taxiway and
provide another leg to improve the traffic way.

This new design was carried out in two phases, the first which began on
October 2004 and consisted of sand-fill dredging and structuring the
all-in base course; and the second which began on December 2004 and
consisted of paving the runway with MC3000 cut-back bitumen. The line
marking of the run way has been delayed as a result of the curing of the
pavement, but will be finished by the end of this month.

The airstrip runway is 2,800 feet long and 40 feet wide. Phase 1 was
carried out by Mr. Benson Ramclam of Triple B Heavy Equipment Ltd. Phase
two was carried out by CISCO Construction Ltd. Its runway class fits the
Aerodome Reference Code 1B of Aerodome Design Manual, and its
measurements satisfy the ICAO Aeroplane Reference.
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