operations.

And more outside help is on the way.

Thompson-Hickling Aviation Inc. of Canada was hired for just under $100,000, Management and Technology Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons said yesterday.

THA's job -- estimated at six to eight man-months of work between now and June 17 -- would include preparing an inventory and assessment of Airport equipment and writing specifications for a contract to run the Airport, he said.

Other help from abroad would be needed before an Airport contract that would likely cost the Island $25 million to $50 million over five years could be awarded, Sen. Gibbons told The Royal Gazette .

A technical adviser -- possibly hired from the American or Canadian aviation authorities -- would likely start work in about two weeks. Government wanted an expert who could oversee the contract preparations and transition from US Navy to Government control.

Further, an individual or team would be hired from abroad to help put the Airport contract out to tender and assess the bids received, Sen. Gibbons said.

The Americans are closing the US Naval Air Station in September of 1995.

Sen. Gibbons, who chairs Government's new air operations committee, said the Navy would last land a plane on May 31, with Bermuda landing aeroplanes on June 1, 1995.

Taking over the Airport was "the largest, most complex project that Government has probably ever undertaken,'' Sen. Gibbons said.

"Because the Navy has been doing it since it started, we don't have a lot of local expertise in this particular air operations area,'' he said. "The stakes involved here are so high that we need to be assured that we're getting the correct kind of advice.'' It was not yet known how much consulting and other pre-contract work would cost, but Sen. Gibbons said he believed it would be within the $2 million set aside in the recent Budget.

Government is also setting up its own transition team at Corner House in Hamilton, headed by former director of management services Mr. Ken Stubbings.

Environmental Engineer Dr. Tom Sleeter would be part of the team, which would include officials from Works & Engineering and other departments.

THA, hired on the advice of the Canadian Aviation Authority, had run airports elsewhere and also had been involved in a transition to a civil airport from a military one, Sen. Gibbons said. It was the only company certified to provide air traffic control in Canada.

"They seem to have a track record and were strongly recommended by the Canadian Government,'' he said.

Already in Bermuda, THA was now "literally poking through logbooks and equipment maintenance records'' and "digging through back rooms'' at the Civil Air Terminal to provide Government with an inventory and assessment of Navy Airport equipment, he said.

The inventory was to be ready by April 29, with a "concept of operations'' delivered by May 13. The latter would include recommendations on whether the Airport should be a 24-hour operation, and on how far from the Island air traffic control should extend.

THA was to deliver tender specifications and a transition plan by June 17. The Airport contract -- which could include air traffic control, fire and crash services, navigational aids, meteorology, search and rescue, ground electronics, and runway maintenance -- would go out to tender about the middle of July. A contractor would likely be selected in September or October.

The contract would include requirements for Bermudianisation, he said.

"Government will have a very clear commitment to getting Bermudians into air operations, even though we're not going to take on the complete (Airport) responsibility ourselves.'' The contract could cost between $25 million and $50 million over five years, depending on whether any air operations like fire and crash or meteorology were separated from the contract and performed by Bermuda directly.

There could also be charges collected by Bermuda that would reduce the net cost, he said.

It appeared the Navy would be leaving much of its air operations equipment behind, he said. While it was to be negotiated, he believed Bermuda would not have to pay for equipment left on the Island. Government would have to pay to replace some equipment.