Corvera Airport Opens October ?

NB: 2008 was origination date not opening date !

The finger waving and name calling continues over Corvera... but a light may be on the horizon with the Minister of Public Works for the region of Murcia, Antonio Sevilla, reiterating the recent comments made by President Valcarcel that Coverva WILL be operational by October (I note he didn't specify which October did he ?)

The Minister said how it was too earlier to announce an exact date due to the complexity of proceedings, but that this did not imply that there were any problems.  Upon being asked about the issue of re-classifying airspace around the airport, Sevilla pointed out that Barajas airport in Madrid shares airspace with the nearby Military airport of Torrejón without any major issue.

Last week the Ministry of Defence appointed Colonel Emilio Gracia (Director of the Spanish Military Airforce academy - based at San Javier) to oversee the project of re-classifying and co-coordinating the airspace  between Murcia's San Javier and the new Corvera airport. Colonel Gracia, told National Radio that "everything is achievable" and that he is focusing on trying to "find a solution that satisfies everyone from the point of flexibility and ease of use ". 

Gracia went on to insist that "everything is possible" on the understanding that "what can be done will be done", and that there will always be certain aspects of projects which are unachievable. Upon being asked about the appointment of Colonel Gracia, Government representative Joaquin Bascuñana explained that his primary role is to "coordinate airspace". The Ministry of Defence is just one of the parties involved in the coordination required between the two rival airports, both from the standpoint of air navigation and sharing of the limited airspace. 

AENA (the public body that owns and operates the majority of Spanish Airports) is also seeking compensation for recent investments that they have made for the construction and refurbishment of a second runway and control tower at San Javier, when we were at San Javier two weeks ago it was pristine with an enlarged departure hall and a revitalised subway sandwich concession !!

The Ministry of Development Ministry holds that a defence capability must be maintained at San Javier, which must remain for the exclusive use of the General Air Academy. Aside from its strategic importance, the military have also invested heavily at the airport in order to meet specific NATO requirements and are obviously reluctant to give up cede airspace around San Javier in favour of Corvera if this is to restrict operations.

I sense that these arguments will run and run !!