The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Wednesday issued a Temporary Aerodrome Certificate to the Manila International Airport Authority after meeting 81 percent of the requirements of the facility and its operation.
“It’s temporary because we have still five things to comply with. We are going to correct these five aspects, which is part of giving MIAA the final certification for the aerodrome,” airport general manager Eddie Monreal said.
Monreal described the items as: 1) leveling road mounds between Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals 2 and 4; 2) putting up maps to the airport’s runway coordinates; 3) the wildlife hazard management plans; 4) Facility operations manual; and 5) updated aeronautical information publication.
The MIAA chief is optimistic his office will fix all five items before June this year. “It’s a big challenge, but we have to do it,” he said.
Eight years ago, the MIAA was told to resolve some of the requirements the International Civil Aviation Organization found lacking after its audit with CAAP.
Although there was compliance of about 60 percent over the years, the MIAA was not given a chance to get the aerodrome certificate, the agency said.
Monreal said initially they had about 500 items to comply with. The number was reduced to 129 in 2010, and just 60 last year. Last September, the aviation regulator told MIAA that it was necessary to comply with the issues as part of the requirement based on the ICAO standard.
“Within that short span of time we made some rectifications and managed to get to 81 percent of the compliance. The passing points accordingly is about 70 points,” Monreal said.
The airport executive said the MIAA would make some changes on coordinates’ measurements as part of the points of the requirements.
While other airports in the country had already obtained obtained their certification, the MIAA Monreal said, waited eight long years to receive the temporary aerodrome certification.
He said the country’s premier gateway is so big and extensive—the Naia has a land area of 645 hectares and with almost 750 flights a day—“that’s why our certification was a little bit late.”
“There are so many airports nationwide that were not yet certified this year,” said Monreal without elaboration.
When it comes to air congestion, the problem was already being resolved. Monreal said they have already rationalized the problem by preventing airlines who were able to queue and given clearance to take off without a scheduled slot at the Naia.
The MIAA then made policies together with the Civil Aeronautics Board and the CAAP to settle with the airlines involved.