'Ill-fated plane lacks serial number'

MANILA, Philippines - Aside from an expired insurance coverage, the ill-fated Beechcraft Queen Air eight-seater plane that crashed in Parañaque City last week was discovered to have no serial number, a required detail in the registration of aircrafts, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has learned.

“An aircraft’s serial number is a required detail…for it to be allowed to operate in the country,” a source from CAAP said.

“It should not have been registered and granted a license to operate if it did not have a serial number,” the source added.

 CAAP is able to know the age and history of the engine of the aircraft from its serial number.

The lack of a serial number of the ill-fated plane was discovered on Thursday when investigators of the CAAP’s Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB) continued their probe on the crash.

The CAAP source said that the plane crash exposed the alleged negligence of the agency in making sure that only airworthy aircrafts are allowed to fly.

The source cited the lack of insurance cover of the aircraft, saying it was a “mortal sin” since it deprives victims of aircraft mishaps to get compensation for their losses.

Aircrafts registered with the CAAP are required to have insurance coverage for the aircraft, its flight crew, and third party liability.

The families of the 14 people who were killed as a result of the crash have to make do with financial assistance from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Parañaque City government.

Phl should address safety concerns – EU

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) urged CAAP to address the concerns issued by the International Civil Aviation Authority.

The CAAP made a presentation Thursday before senior officials of the EU as the EU reviewed the measures the Philippines had so far implemented for the lifting of ban on airlines based in the country.

Viorel Isticioaia-Budura, managing director for Asia and Pacific of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and head of the EU Delegation in the recent two-day Seventh Philippines-European Union Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in Manila, said the EU is not alone in identifying the safety concerns that led to the air ban. The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has its own serious concerns.

Last year, the EU prohibited all airlines based in the Philippines from flying in the bloc citing “serious safety deficiencies” in the Philippines’ regulation of carriers.

“The EU looks forward to the time when the ban can be lifted but the timing will depend on the corrective measures implemented by the Philippine government to address the deficiencies as reported by the EU Safety Assessment Mission in October 2010,” Budura said in a press conference.

For her part, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Elizabeth Buensuceso said CAAP representatives gave the presentation to address the issues that have been raised.

“And I’m hoping that the EU will find this reply satisfactory and we will forward this process early next year by opening more opportunities for dialogue so that eventually this problem could be resolved,” Buensuceso said.   – With Pia Lee Brago