GMA orders probe into airport delays

By Aytch S. de la Cruz

09/15/2009

President Arroyo yesterday ordered an investigation in an embarrassing radar breakdown at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) that delayed the airlines’ inbound and outbound flights, according to Anthony Golez, her deputy spokesman.

The operations NAIA’s three terminals were back to normal as early as 4:30 a.m. yesterday, a day after its radar system, now deemed antiquated, broke down owing to problems in the system’s power supply. A total of 20 local and international flights were asked to return to NAIA Sunday because of communication problems stemming from the radar system’s breakdown.

Golez said the officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) were expected to submit their findings to President Arroyo as soon as possible.

"There are no more delays," Airport general manager Alfonso Cusi said.

Transport officials said Sunday’s disruption at the airport in Manila came at a bad moment, with officials of the US Federal Aviation Authority set to evaluate nation’s aviation safety standards.

"We need to know and hear their (NAIA officials’) side first. That’s very crucial. Based on (CAAP) report, only then can we formulate the next steps to be taken. The most important thing is here is that we should allow the chips to fall where they may fall. We’ll have to be sure of what caused this (incident) because this goes against the principle of giving safety to our passengers," Golez said in the vernacular.

He said sanctions would be imposed on those found to have been negligent, given that the radar breakdown had placed passengers at risk and seriously damaged the country’s reputation.

"The Palace, and more importantly, all of us should never expect that kind of incident (again) because safety measures are actually put in already with the entry of the CAAP," Golez stressed.

CAAP spokesman Eduardo Batac blamed the faulty radar system that should have been replaced four years ago for the disruption of NAIA operations.

"Our system should have been replaced in 2005, but because of the processes that we had to go through, it is only now that we are starting to put in place the new systems," Batac said.

Heavy rains over the past week led to a power fluctuation that stopped the radar system, forcing the aviation authority to cancel or reroute over a dozen domestic and international flights, Batac said.

The radar, commissioned in 1996, was meant to have a life span of just 10 years, but its replacement had been snagged by bureaucratic setbacks, Batac added.

"This is one of the things they (FAA) will have to look into," Batac said, referring to Sunday’s incident. "It’s just very unfortunate that our back up system failed."

The downgrade to category two in 2007 restricted flag carrier Philippine Airlines’ flights to the United States, and prompted the government to create the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The CAAP, which operates the radar system, has P10-billion fund to restore and modernize the air navigation system. But up to now, according to an airport official, there is no new project being implemented to carry out the modernization program.

The same airport official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that the money intended for the modernization program was being used to pay at least 100 consultants who received P25,000 a month or approximately P2.5 million a month "for doing nothing."

Several passengers have already filed complaints seeking compensation from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the government-run corporation that runs the NAIA, and from airline companies as well.

MIAA officials said that it has received a number of complaints from passengers over delays to their travel plan but could not actually take immediate action whether they are entitled to any compensation.

Airport assistant general manager Octavio Lina said power outage brought by heavy rains and strong winds caused the collapse of the antiquated radar system at the NAIA.

The MIAA is currently working with CAAP to tackle the serious radar system malfunction after it collapsed for more than two hours causing delays and cancellations of numerous flights.

Batac said plans for the rehabilitation and modernization of air navigation system in the country is now underway. We have already put in the blue print programs, plans, feasibility studies and design of air navigation facilities to conform with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)."

"We have Conducted field investigation, engineering survey and data gathering the improvement and/or establishment of air navigation facilities," he said. With Conrado Ching and AFP

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