DOTC to declog NAIA air traffic

MANILA, Philippines -  The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to implement a string of measures to declog Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), which has seen numerous delayed international and domestic flights due to the increased air traffic, an official said yesterday.

Meanwhile, around 50 ramp controllers at NAIA’s three terminals and the Manila Domestic Airport are up in arms over the long hours and the low salary they receive.

DOTC Secretary Jose de Jesus said the changes include the issuance of an order to local flying schools in Pasay and Parañaque that deploy small and slow trainer aircrafts to relocate their operations out of NAIA. These flying schools were identified to have technically affected “efficiency of other aircrafts” using the NAIA’s runways, he said.

To streamline aircraft movements, stricter guidelines will be enforced on the use of the runway for outgoing and incoming flights on the basis of availability of terminal capacities, runway use ability, and take-off or landing sequence, he said.

De Jesus also urged airlines to explore alternate international airports such as the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga as their base of operations.

“For the long term, the airline industry has been advised that since the NAIA capacity to take in flights is approaching the upper limits and may increase operational safety concerns, airlines should look at the option of using other established international gateways in Luzon like the DMIA,” he said.

De Jesus said over the past five years, “Philippine domestic carriers have significantly increased both their domestic and international operations. This growth contributed to the congestion issues arising from the utilization of only one runway for all flight movements.”

He also said the DOTC is setting up a modern communication and air traffic management system, the CNS-ATM, which “will put the Philippines at par with other countries worldwide as far as air traffic control is concerned.” De Jesus said the installation of the CNS-ATM is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.

“Meanwhile, a transition system is being put in place to ensure (that we have) the proper safeguards,” he added.

De Jesus ordered DOTC-attached agencies concerned with civil aviation to deal with the “operational challenge” at NAIA. These agencies include the Civil Aeronautics Board, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

He instructed them to implement their own plans and programs to address the congestion problem.  

The civil aviation agencies were also alerted and directed to strictly monitor the rapid increase in flight frequency at the NAIA, which may create “additional operational burdens” for them. 

De Jesus said aviation operators affected by the relocation program have six months to submit their respective transfer plans, drawn up based on their needs and requirements.

He pointed out that the adjustments were also aimed at allaying concerns raised by certain quarters over perceived safety issues affecting airlines operating at the NAIA. 

Ramp controllers air protests

Around 50 ramp controllers have banded together to ask their firm, LBP Service Corp. – which has an existing contract with the MIAA to provide ramp control services – exactly how much money is involved in the contract for handling traffic at the four terminals and whether the salary they are receiving is commensurate with the contract.

Ramp controllers are licensed air traffic controllers who are in charge of assigning aircraft their proper parking berth, preparing schedules when planes have to be towed out of the terminal to find their proper slot among departing and arriving airplanes. They receive only P13,000 per month, and most of those who left have accepted higher paying jobs abroad.

Three ramp controllers have resigned this May and they have not been replaced. This has exacerbated the situation at the NAIA, as The STAR reported last month that some ramp controllers work continuously for days without any replacement.

Only licensed air traffic controllers are qualified to be a ramp controller, according to veteran air controller Joe Umali.

The remaining ramp controllers are asking the MIAA to give them plantilla positions so they would no longer be classified as contractual employees. They are also asking at least P22,000 a month.