MANILA – The Civil Aviation Authority (of the
Philippines) announced last Friday that the country’s new air navigational
system or the Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management
(CNS/ATM) is now fully operational.
“There was a cutover in November. Operations have started at that time, but it
has to undergo an observation period. CNS/ATM’s full operations start today,” CAAP
spokesman Eric Apolonio said.
The new system will enhance the safety and efficiency of air traffic, he said,
enabling a more definite aircraft identification and better airspace
management.
According to CAAP, the system works by sending satellite signals to aircraft
transponders and by using transponder transmissions to determine the precise
locations of aircraft in the sky.
“It provides various computer-aided safety measures in Air Traffic Control, and
enhances safety through reduction of controller/pilot workloads and human
errors. With the integration, the country’s air transport industry will benefit
from increased airspace flexibility, optimal air traffic personnel workload
delegation, safer air traffic service provision, and better overall efficiency
of the country’s aviation sector,” it said in a statement.
Furthermore, the CNS/ATM will further develop aviation safety, optimize the
airspace, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and promote greener skies, CAAP
added.
Apolonio also said that CAAP’s collection will be bigger now that the
Philippines has the CNS/ATM. The system tracks specific flights that pass
through the Philippine air space.
Airlines need to pay for this. Carriers need to pay even if the Philippines is
not their final destination.
“CAAP would then be able to collect more from the overfly bill. There is an
automatic billing for that,” Apolonio said.
Meanwhile, Apolonio bared that the Philippines is quite late in having the
CNS/ATM as neighboring countries are already using the system.
“The current administration instructed to fast-track this,” he said. (PNA)
