U.S. helps Trinidad and Tobago with developing regional air cargo hub

U.S. helps Trinidad and Tobago with developing regional air cargo hub The U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a $390,572 grant to the Trinidad and Tobago Airport Authority to develop a plan to create an air cargo and plane maintenance hub at the Piarco International Airport.
   Piarco airport, located about 15 miles east of Port of Spain, is the largest airport in the Caribbean. Currently, 18 international airlines and seven cargo carriers that serve 26 destinations operate out of the airport. In addition, the airport serves as the primary hub for Caribbean Airlines, Trinidad and Tobago's national airline.
   In a recent statement, the USTDA said the grant to the airport authority will support 'the funding investment analysis related to the development of a new air cargo facility; maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities; an air cargo logistics center; and ancillary facilities in an industrial park near the flight line.'
   The airport authority has selected Simat, Helliesen & Eicher, a Cambridge, Mass.-based aviation consulting firm, as the U.S. company that will provide the USTDA-funded assistance. In addition to the USTDA grant, the firm will provide additional resources toward completion of the study.
   USTDA has supported several other projects in Trinidad and Tobago, such as a liquefied natural gas upstream production and delivery system feasibility study, which was implemented and led to $1.9 billion in U.S. exports, the federal agency said.