OIA Provides $431,805 to Support Air Transportation Services in the Western Pacific

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) has announced $431,805 in fiscal year 2022 Technical Assistance Program funding to maintain and update small aircraft engine avionics and engines used for air transportation services between Guam, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia, especially to the smaller islands where no regular air or sea transportation is available. The funding will also purchase spare parts and equipment for emergency patient transport.

“We are pleased to support the people and families in the smaller islands of the Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia who have less access and whose economy and livelihoods rely on these critical transportation services,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Keone Nakoa. “The small aircraft in question provide passenger and cargo transport, emergency medivac for Covid-19 patients and other health-related emergencies, disaster relief readiness, general surveillance against illegal activities in the EEZ, and search and rescue efforts, all critical to small island nations with large exclusive economic zones in the greater Western Pacific.”

The Pacific Mission Aviation (PMA) is a non-profit 501(c) non-profit organization that provides air transportation services to several smaller islands in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau and has been providing air-transportation to the Micronesia region now for nearly 50 years. Under what the PMA calls Project HOPE for Helping Our Pacific Economy, they coordinate closely with local governments and U.S. federal partners in the region to provide air transportation, emergency services, surveillance, and search and rescue support to the region. For more information, visit pmapacific.org.

The Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, @InsularAffairs, and the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Follow and “like” OIA on Facebook and subscribe to the OIA YouTube Channel.

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