THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) reported on Sunday that except for Loakan Airport in Baguio, government-run airports in Northern Luzon remain operational. Loakan was partly covered by landslide and others with minor damages and varying degrees of readiness.
The Caap said it dispatched some of the air-traffic controllers in Manila on Friday to replace the duty controllers in Tuguegarao, Cauayan and Laoag airports.
“The Caap’s ‘Oplan Ompong’ has been monitoring the situation as early as Friday morning,” the Caap said in a statement. “Air-traffic personnel from Manila were dispatched to Northen Luzon airports.”
It added that engineers from Manila were instructed to be part of the contingency to assess the damage to airports and to repair those aerodromes that had been affected.
“Additional security details were sent to affected airports to assist. Food and water were also provided to Caap employees and volunteers manning the affected airports.”
The Caap said communication lines at Loakan airport, Baguio, are open and operational via VHF/HF (very high frequency radio), and phone and mobile lines. Also, navigational aids and meteorological equipment are operational, while passenger terminals and other vertical structures are intact.
“Runway 27 was affected by landslide in the area and covered by mud,” the Caap said. “Notam [Notice to Airmen] shall be issued to limit Baguio operations to helicopter utilization only.”
The Caap noted that the airport in San Fernando, La Union, is operational.