Aerodrome Certificate awarded to Laoag International Airport

FEB. 19, 2018 marked another significant event for Laoag International Airport as it received a Temporary Aerodrome Certificate. Director- General of Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Capt. Jim C. Sydiongco personally awarded the certificate to the Civil Aviation Area Manager of Area I, Ronald V. Estabillo, right after the flag-raising ceremony.

The Aerodrome and Air Navigation Safety Oversight Office (AANSOO), being the oversight and regulatory body of CAAP, tasked to conduct safety audit, inspection of aerodromes and surveillance of airports due for certification, conducted its initial certification audit on June 20 to 24, 2016 and a subsequent validation audit on Aug. 14 to 18, 2017.

According to the Aviation Services Safety Officer of Area I, Rosito G. Tamayo, Jr., who chaired the Committee in the Formulation, Creation and Conceptualization of the Aerodrome Manual, the submitted requirements were the Aerodrome Manual, Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Manual, Disabled Aircraft Removal Plan (DARP), Airport Emergency Plan (AEP), Safety Management System (SMS) Manual, and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan.

Aside from these documents, he also pointed out that some of the irregular physical characteristics of the aerodrome were complied with/corrected. These were, among others, the provision lighting of Wind Direction Indicators, removal of protruding concrete culverts and other obstacles and runway shoulder grade correction.

A letter from the AANSOO stated that the granting of Temporary Aerodrome Certificate of Laoag International Airport signifies that the aerodrome has acceptable facilities, safety procedures and system and that it is capable to operate and maintain the aerodrome in accordance with CAAP requirements.

The Temporary Aerodrome Certificate is valid for six months and that LIA is subject to further compliance and is to submit a mitigation plan on the non-standard runway strip dimension and non-provision of Runway End Safety Area (RESA).

All of which are already being discussed by the Local Runway Safety Team (LRST). The management of LIA is confident and optimistic that a permanent Aerodrome Certificate will be issued prior to the expiration of the existing certificate.