NAIA flights limited while radar on maintenance

Rappler.com

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(2nd UPDATE) Flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will be limited from October 21 to 26, when the Manila Radar will go through maintenance checks

MORE INCONVENIENCE. Travelers passing through the Philippines' main gateway will face more inconvenience during the maintenance period for the airport's radar facility. File photo by EPA

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – Flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Philippines’ main gateway, will be limited from October 21 to 26, the period when the Manila Radar will be out of service for maintenance works for a total of 30 hours.

These safety measures announced by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) on Sunday, October 20, are expected to affect passengers arriving or departing from NAIA where the runway and 3 or its 4 terminal facilities are already congested. (READ: NAIA-1 rated world’s worst airport again)  

Caap’s notice-to-airmen (Notam) order warned that there would be a continuous outtage of the radar service from 1pm until 7pm on October 24.

Among the restrictions cited in the Notam is that all landing and take-off procedures would be via conventional VOR (based on radio signals) or ILS (instrument landing system) approaches.

Pilots can also use their Standard Instrument Departure (SID) or an airport navigation system called STAR (Standard terminal approach route), whichever is available to them.

To limit congestion, air traffic controllers would limit the number of aircraft under its control to 11 arrivals and 11 departures per hour.

“International flight schedules will be first priority for arrival and departure sequence,” the Caap said. General Aviation flights will not be allowed during the period to give more airspace within the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Aerodrome.

“Departure flights will be subject to Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) release, and departure,” the Caap added.

Flights will be advised of their Estimated Departure Clearance Time (EDCT), while waiting for clearance on the ground.

To meet flight separation requirement, air traffic controllers says 5 to 7 minutes separation must be applied between flights while in the holding patterns since possible complications may arise during bad weather condition, unexpected flight delays, or during emergencies.

Extra fuel

The Caap told the Airline Operators Council (AOC) that it would be prudent to advise their Head Office to assign sufficient extra fuel for Manila-bound flights affected by the radar outage schedule to avoid flight diversions.

Herr Obusan, AOC member and the local manager of Japan Airlines (JAL) operations, said that he had recommended to his airline that least one hour extra hour of fuel is added when leaving Narita, Osaka and headed for NAIA.

PAL announces affected flights

Legacy carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its unit PAL Express said their passengers affected by this system upgrade have the following options: either claim for a refund or rebook to other flights on the same route.

The airline announced on its social media accounts that both PAL and PAL Express will waive rebooking and fare difference charges. “Please take note that refunds and re-bookings will be processed within 7 days from the original date of departure,” PAL said on its Facebook page. 

The following are the affected flights from October 22 – 24, 2013:

October 22, 2013
PAL (PR)
PR 879 MNL-CEB

October 23, 2013
PAL EXPRESS (2P)
2P039/040 MNL/MPH/MNL
2P073/074 MNL/MPH/MNL
2P925/926 MNL/LGP/MNL
2P545/546 MNL/DGT/MNL
2P519/520 MNL/CGY/MNL
2P995/996 MNL/ZAM/MN
2P081/082 MNL/KLO/MNL
2P971/972 MNL/TAC/MNL
2P959/960 MNL/CBO/MNL
2P911/912 MNL/BCD/MNL
2P905/906 MNL/BCD/MNL
2P939/940 MNL/OZC/MNL
2P929/930 MNL/ILO/MNL
2P933/934 MNL/ILO/MNL
2P800 MNL/SIN

October 23, 2013
PAL (PR)
PR 809/810 MNL/DVO/MNL
PR819/820 MNL/DVO/MNL
PR823 MNL/DVO
PR843/844 MNL/CEB/MNL
PR847/848 MNL/CEB/MNL
PR853/854 MNL/CEB/MNL
PR863/864 MNL/CEB/MNL
PR865/866 MNL/CEB/MNL
PR836 CEB/MNL

October 24, 2013
PAL EXPRESS (2P)
2P 267 / 268 MNL/NAGA/MNL
2P 801 SIN/MNL

October 24, 2013
PAL (PR)
PR 808 DVO/MNL
PR841 MNL/CEB
PR 836 CEB/MNL 

– Rappler.com

 

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