The National Audit Office has published its findings from its investigation into realising the benefits of the St Helena Airport project.
The airport is now built, and has been certified, and was due to start operating in May 2016. However, in April 2016, the St Helena Government announced that further safety and operational work was required to address the impact of difficult wind conditions on landing the plane safely.
This Public Accounts Committee inquiry will look at the key assumptions in the Department for International Development's cost-benefit analysis to support its investment in the airport. It also considers the Department's ability, in partnership with the St Helena Government, to realise the benefits from improved access to the island that they expect the airport will provide. The RMS St Helena was not due to come out of service until July 2016. The Department, with the St Helena Government, are looking at alternative access options.
A video of an aircraft trying to land at St Helena Airport is available below to reference the issues outlined in the report: