The UK’s Secretary of State for International Development, Priti Patel, has appointed an external expert to review the process that has seen a delay in the start of regular air services to St Helena, a spokesperson for the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) tells Engineering News Online.

“The department will establish an independent panel from both government and the private sector to find a solution. DFID has a duty to the British taxpayer to ensure value for money as we meet our international obligations to the people of St Helena and the new Secretary of State will demand fresh thinking to make this happen.”

There is no timeframe yet for the establishment of the panel, in what could be a lengthy process. The name of the expert is not known.

The £286-million St Helena Airport was due to open in May. However, the start of operations was delayed indefinitely owing to safety fears related to turbulence and wind shear, which makes it difficult to land commercial airliners on the island.

The remote island – a British overseas territory 2 300 km north-west of Walvis Bay – has previously only been accessible by ship, the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) St Helena, in a journey that takes four to five days from South Africa. The new airport was built to boost tourism to the island and to make the island less dependent on aid.

Built in 1990, the RMS St Helena is coming to the end of its life. One of the options was to replace the RMS St Helena or build an airport.

South African construction firm Basil Read was, in November 2011, awarded the contract to design, build and operate the airport on St Helena.

The project involved the construction of a 1 850 m concrete runway, a 3 500 m² airport terminal and other associated infrastructure, such as access roads, bulk fuel installations, water supplies and aerodrome ground lighting, besides others.

Construction started in 2012.

Potential sites for an airport on St Helena were believed to be limited.

Basil Read is responsible for airport operations until 2026.

The company referred all enquiries to the DFID.