0 NAIA Under Water

22 August 2013

Manila International Airport Authority has grounded at least 197 flights on Monday and Tuesday after southwest monsoon induced torrential rain triggered widespread flooding at the country's premier gateway.

Detail: NAIA Under Water

0 Banned

MIAA Closes Airport to General Aviation, 
Opens Sangley to Commercial Traffic

1 August 2013

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has issued an order limiting flights of general aviation traffic from using Ninoy Aquino International Airport beginning July 31.

In its stead is the Sangley Airport in Cavite which begins its first commercial traffic since its inception as a military airport by the Americans in 1945.

The restriction was issued by Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya on June 28 under Department Order No. 2013-08.

In a statement by  CAAP Deputy Director General John Andrews during a press briefing this afternoon, the flight restriction covers corporate jet and air taxi landings and take-offs at NAIA to only two cycles per hour, which is equivalent to two take offs and landing from 11 PM to 11 AM only.

General Aviation flights used to have seven to eight cycles per hour, according to Andrews. 

With the opening of Sangley Airport,  all the general aviation flights will eventually be transferred in Cavite, as well as small propeller and turboprop flights soon, making NAIA a jet-only airport as it prepares to accommodate the arrival of 12 widebody jets of both PAL and CEB this year. 

In a separate statement, Angel Honrado, Manila International Airport Authority General Manager, said the new policy will raise NAIA's rated capacity to 42 landings and take-offs per hour from the present 40 with the reduction of Genav traffic.

“We will be able to minimize delays and cancellations,” Honrado said.

Honrado added that NAIA was able to handle as high as 52 events (landing and take offs) per hour in the past but because of high delay incidence they were able to reduce congestion to as low as 36 events in past two years.

NAIA registered an average of 550 aircraft movements daily with 450 planes using runway 06-24, while  runway 13-31 handles 100 planes on average per day.

General Aviation planes causes delay in congested airport because they occupy a lot time on approach and landing due to their speed limitation as compared to the faster jet which can vacate the runway through the rapid exits in less than 60 seconds as compared to the props which takes almost 120 to 180 seconds from final approach to landing.

Detail: Banned

0 DOTC taps Arup Philippines

For consultancy of NAIA 1 rehab

By Lawrence Agcaoili
The Philippine Star

June 3, 2013

MANILA - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has tapped the local unit of the world-renowned Arup & Partners, founded by the late Anglo-Danish engineer Ove Arup, to evaluate the design for the much needed P1.51 billion rehabilitation of the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In a notice of award, DOTC undersecretary and officer-in-charge Julianito Bucayan Jr. said Arup Philippines has been awarded a P1.51 billion contract for the review of the performance-based design for the retrofitting works at the NAIA Terminal 1.

“We are pleased to inform you that based on the findings of the Bids and Awards Committee, the contract for the procurement of consulting services for the review of the performance-based design for the retrofitting works for the NAIA 1 through negotiated procurement is hereby awarded to Arup Philippines,” Bucayan stated in a notice addressed to Arup Philippines managing director Raul Manlapig.

Arup’s major projects include the Sydney Opera House, Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal3, Jetblue Terminal 5, and the Heathrow Personal Rapid Transit System, among others.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the agency has decided to commission a performance-based design instead of a code-based design which would have required a much longer design and construction period.

Abaya stressed the review of the performance-based design is the final step before the start of the actual retrofitting works that is expected to cost at least P1.5 billion.

“A major priority for us is the rehabilitation of our primary airport gateway. It’s no secret that the NAIA has received its fair share of criticism, and we do acknowledge the urgent need to rehabilitate its terminals, especially the decades-old Terminal 1,” the DOTC chief lamented.

The retrofitting and structural rehabilitation would make the country’s gateway compliant to the 2010 National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP).

Arup was tapped by the DOTC after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) admitted that it does not have the expertise to approve and certify performance-based design.

The DPWH is tasked to certify if the design and rehabilitation plan is compliant with the Philippine Standard.
The DOTC opted for a performance-based design instead of the code-based design so as not to disrupt the operations at the NAIA1.

Last year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the budget for the retrofitting and rehabilitation of the airport named after the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.

Of the total amount, about P500 million would be used for architectural, engineering, and interior design and works to improve the airports internal facilities, while P340 million would be for urgent structural retrofitting to improve the structural integrity of the NAIA-1 building and comply with the 2010 National Structural Code of the Philippines.

Another P300 million would be utilized to construct two rapid exit taxiway to decongest the runway, while P20 million would be used to rehabilitate all 72 toilets inside the international airport.

NAIA 1 – voted the world’s worst airport – started operating in 1981 with an original design capacity for 4.5 million passengers per year which was reached in 1991 and currently handles 7.3 million passengers a year.

Detail: DOTC taps Arup Philippines

0 Terminal 3 Gets Funding Boost

Gov't injects $45 Million to Complete and Expand Terminal

February 13, 2013

The Government of the Philippines has forged a $45-million deal with Japanese contractor Takenaka Corp. to complete the rehabilitation of the 182,500-square meter Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport.  

Takaneka is to complete delivery of 23 airport systems, which include baggage handling and reconciliation system, flight information display system, building management system, local area network, fire alarm and protection system and passenger loading bridges.

Upon full completion, the new terminal will have 34 operating air bridges and 20 contact gates, allowing it to service 28 aircraft simultaneously. It would also have the capacity to service up to 6,000 passengers per hour, or 33,000 passengers daily at peak time. 

The NAIA terminal 3 is expected to be fully operation by the end of 2013.

Detail: Terminal 3 Gets Funding Boost

0 Plane Rescue, How Close?

January 4, 2013

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) conducts a full-scale airport emergency exercise every two years in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Suggested and Recommended Practices (SARPS) which is incorporated in Manual of Standards (MOS) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) under Administrative Order 139, specifically Section 10.7.1.4.

The latest MIAA CREX exercise will be conducted this year. It previously held in October 20, 2011 the “2011 Crash and Rescue Exercise (CREX)” outside airport premises free from obstacles, from traffic to accessibility.

Rescue drills test response time, as well as capability and effectiveness of the MIAA’s airport emergency preparedness plan in rescuing passengers in an aircraft accident within land and water vicinities of 5 kilometer radius from the Aerodrome Reference Point (ARP) of the NAIA.  

The ARP is the intersection point of Runway 13/31 and Runway 06/24 however, this does not preclude Airport Crash and Rescue Organization (ACRO) from responding outside the limits indicated above when called upon to assist by the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC).

Almost two months after the exercise, a plane did crash beyond the threshold of Runway 13/31 in Paranaque City on December 10, 2011 hitting a school building and killing 14 people including children.

The drill turned out fine in the real drama, except for the rescue. In the actual event the first to respond was the rescue helicopter which reported in advance the situations on the ground and the location of the crash site. It returned later with a bucket of water to douse flames in the area according to the video source. The ground firefighters arrived 15 minutes later amidst traffic and difficult access to the area unlike the training they have at Macapagal Avenue.

 Clearing and securing the area turns out difficult than rehearsed.

The crash simulation was different in many ways from the actual plane crash scenario which MIAA's Crash and Rescue experienced. Incorporating the lessons learned in that plane crash is desired in the 2013 CREX to fine-tuned response time and test how effective rescue personnels are in rescuing passengers and/or containing property damage in similar aircraft accident outside airport premises. While it remains to be seen whether the drills they have inside the fence turned out to be an invaluable experience gained in actual scenarios.

The Airport Crash and Rescue Organization (ACRO) is established in coordination with the different government and private agencies involved in rescue, fire control, security, medical assistance, care and welfare of the victims of aircraft and on-aircraft accident.

In a similar fashion,  Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) also conducts Mactan Crash and Rescue Exercises (Macrex) first started in 2010, which it held recently on June 26, 2012 testing its capability in responding to aircraft accidents within airport premises.

In the MACREX 2012 MCIAA performed drills for Emergency Plan No. 1 or the aircraft accident at airport under Mactan Airport Emergency Plan (Maep).

Detail: Plane Rescue, How Close?

0 NAIA Shuttle Buses Arrived On Time

October 22, 2012

Detail: NAIA Shuttle Buses Arrived On Time