BY JOHNNY NOVERA
LAST week, we wrote in our column (Re-direct Int’l Flights…) of the heavy air traffic and dangerous situation of landings and takeoffs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) such that even the old Terminal IV in Manila is now being used.
We suggested again that international flights be diverted to the Iloilo Airport or to that of Silay City in Negros Occidental.
A retired international commercial pilot with nearly 20,000 flying hours experience was quoted by The Tribune newspaper as saying that the flight movement at NAIA is “abnormally beyond safety limits.”
“The sheer volume of movements makes the interval of airlines’ landing and taking off very short. Just a small miscalculation of the pilot or air traffic controller can cause an accident either in midair or on the ground,” he stressed.
It was learned that takeoffs and landings are only 54 seconds apart while the ideal is at least three minutes.
There is the report that PAL and Cebu Pacific are now allowed also to fly to the US and Europe. The question is asked where are they going to put the additional flights to land and take off? Emirates and Qatar Airways have likewise applied for additional flights.
Flights can be shifted to Clark International Airport but that is more than an hour away from Metro Manila by bus. To our mind, the better option for international passengers is to land in Iloilo and enjoy a side tour as we originally suggested. If they wish to proceed to Manila, they can then take an evening flight when NAIA is no longer as crowded.
Meanwhile, San Miguel Corp. that owns Philippine Air Lines (PAL) has made an offer to President B. S. Aquino through its president, Ramon Ang, to build a modern $10-billion international airport on a 1,600-hectare portion of Manila Bay encompassing the areas of Parañaque, Las Piñas and Bacoor, Cavite, under the public-private partnership program of the administration. There will be no cost to the government for the project.
When will the government accept the offer so the project can be started right away?
Having the reputation of operating the worst airport in the world, we cannot wait. (For comments or reactions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN
