Airport fiasco
According to the DOTR: “The incident that resulted in the loss of power in the system was due to a problem in the system’s electrical network, with its uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which is to be used as backup power supply, also failing (sic). The main cause of the power supply problem is still being determined and is subject for investigation.”
According to the transport department, the CNS/ATM System is a P10.8-billion project financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) that was completed in October 2017.
It provides various computeraided safety measures in Air Traffic Control (ATC), and enhances safety through reduction of controller/pilot workloads and human errors.
The new ATM System introduced Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) and Air Space Management (ASM) functions, which optimize the use of airport capacity and the efficient use of airspace, hence minimizing delays and allowing more flexible and user-preferred air-route selection. The system commenced comprehensive operations on July 26, 2019.
“CAAP recognizes that the system is already behind when it was first used in 2019 and has made recommendations to the President on improving the country’s air traffic management system,” the statement read.
The Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC), which houses the equipment to the system, resumed normal operations at 5:50 p.m. on Sunday.
Despite the resumption of normal operations, some flights on Tuesday were still canceled or moved to a latter date.
Palace: Thorough probe
IN a short message to reporters, Press Secretary OIC-USEC. Cheloy Garafil said “a thorough investigation is being conducted by appropriate agencies.”
Flights were either delayed, canceled or diverted to other regional airports affecting thousands of passengers in Naia.
Meanwhile, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Cesar Chiong said flight operations at the premier NAIA Terminals are expected to be fully normalized either Wednesday or Thursday, as efforts to return to normalcy swiftly began in the late afternoon of January 1.
This, following the restoration of the Manila air traffic management system as a result of aviation authorities having successfully resolved the power outage problem that affected flights to, from and within the Philippines on Sunday, January 1.
As of this writing, asked if flight operations have fully normalized, Chiong said: “Halos [almost],” and added, speaking partly in Filipino, “but there were a few flights that were canceled due to operational requirements of the airlines. The flights are all so full, so it was hard to accommodate those people whose flights were canceled.”
Chiong apologized for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and thanked the passengers for their understanding, with an assurance that everything is continuously being done to hasten the return to full normal operations.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) spokesperson Ma. Cielo Villaluna said that the total number of affected passengers from their end was 24,000 while the total number of affected flights was placed at 244, comprising 60 percent of the airline’s total scheduled flights on Sunday. Cancellations covered the period midmorning (past 10 a.m.) up to 5 p.m.
Villaluna explained that it will take some time to fully restore normal schedules “as we reposition aircraft that had been held back or diverted to other airports and adjust flight timings based on revised clearances in coordination with the local authorities.”
In addition to some delays caused by these adjustments, Villaluna said PAL has had to cancel some flights for January 2, 2023 as it continues to closely coordinate with the aviation authorities on the adjustment of flight schedules and clearances, as the authorities work to resolve the temporary problem.
Similarly, Cebu Pacific (CEB) Corporate Communications Manager Romina Yasmin Aguirre said that CEB continues to review its operations following the technical glitch in the ATMS of CAAP.
Aguirre added that consequently, CEB has canceled additional flights and is still working on the recovery of its network and normalizing its operations.
Airasia Philippines deputy spokesperson Carlo Carongoy said they are implementing additional flight adjustments through a recovery flight on January 3, 2023, “as we strive to normalize the operations in all of our airport destinations.”
“Guests are advised to regularly check registered SMS and email for preflight notifications on flight adjustments. This is beyond our control but Airasia is working closely with government and airport authorities until we fully resolve the situation,” he added.