CAAP@11: ‘Centered on Aviation Safety, Focused on Progress’

Since becoming an independent regulatory body in 2008, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has strived hard to improve the country’s aviation sector by launching initiatives and projects that will advance the country’s air transport infrastructure, safety and overall performance.

Build, Build, Build

In its mission to connect the Philippine Islands through aviation, and to make air transport more available and convenient to Filipinos, the agency launched a number of projects to improve the country’s aviation infrastructure and steadily fulfill its vision of a Philippines fully connected by aviation.

Under the Build, Build, Build program, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade’s solid guidance, and the CAAP’s steadfast performance, Philippine aviation will soar higher in 2019 and the years to come.

As it reaches its 11th year, CAAP looks forward and upward to 2019 as it prepares for more project completion and inaugurations. This year will see the opening of PTBs in Busuanga Airport, Camiguin Airport, Catarman Airport, Marinduque Airport, Ormoc Airport, Ipil Airport, Mati Airport and Siargao Airport.

While maintaining safety in aviation, the authority is also continuously upgrading and working toward the night-rating of several airports expected to be completed by 2019-2021. Naga Airport, Tuguegarao Airport, Cotabato Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Cauayan Airport, Dipolog Airport, Ozamiz Airport, and Pagadian Airport are among the airports whose night flight capabilities are currently being processed.

To help improve ASEAN connectivity, enhance aviation safety, optimize Philippine airspace, reduce CO2 emissions, and promote greener skies, the CAAP inaugurated the new Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Complex and held cutover rites for its operations on Jan. 16 and Dec. 17, 2018, respectively.

Airport on-time performance

The CAAP believes in not only providing safe but also punctual air transport services. As the operator of 80 regional airports in the country, the CAAP strives hard to boost its airports’ performance. That is why the Authority welcomes the result of the 2017-2018 Official Aviation Guide’s (OAG) On-time Performance (OTP) Star Ratings for airlines and airports, wherein six CAAP-operated airports received onestar ratings.

The rating was given to provincial airports in Iloilo, Bacolod (Silay), Laguindingan in Cagayan de Oro City, Davao, Tacloban in Leyte and Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

The OTP star rating is designed to benchmark against set criteria defined by industry and flight status information experts. The OTP is measured across the whole year based on 12 months’ rolling performance.

Improving Philippine aviation through international cooperation

Aside from building an improved aviation infrastructure in the Philippines, the CAAP, as the country’s representative in the international aviation community, also carries out partnerships and collaborates with various organizations and professionals that could assist the Philippines in its objectives towards a safe, economical and efficient air transport sector.

The CAAP participated in meetings such as the Meeting of the South China Sea Traffic Flow Review Group, the coordination meeting with Japanese representatives for the proposed Philippine-Japan Table-top Search and Rescue Exercise, the National Air Transport Facilitation Programme, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) – European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Forum on Civil Aviation in Southeast Asia, Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programme (COSCAP) Southeast Asia Steering Committee Meeting, the EU-SEA Aviation Partnership Project Management Board Meeting, and the Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programme (COSCAP)-Southeast Asia (SEA) ANS Safety Assistance Mission.

CAAP celebrates 11th year

This month, the CAAP is commemorating its 11th year with a month-long celebration joined by its employees, stakeholders and friends. With the theme, “Centered on Aviation Safety, Focused on Progress,” the agency kicked-off its celebrations last March 4 with a thanksgiving Mass right after its Monday flag-raising ceremony.

The aviation regulator also had a bloodletting activity last March 5, a cleanup drive last March 8, a sports fest starting today and a fun run on March 22.

Aside from these, the Authority also celebrated its anniversary with stakeholders and employees from its area centers in a fellowship night and Loyalty Service Awards last March 8, where it awarded four employees for their 40 years of service.