Airport authorities have recruited new air traffic controllers (ATCs) to replace some of the retirees, now reportedly in their 70s and 80s, who were rehired by the government in the past due to the lack of licensed ATCs.
Some 20 newly trained ATCs were dispatched across the four airport passenger terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) this month to undergo further hands-on training, according to sources. These ramp controllers were initially trained by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) under a “special arrangement”. Naia General Manager Ed Monreal said that, as far as he knows, the trainees started work last week of August.
Engr. Ric Medalla, terminal manager for Naia Terminal 3, said it is probable that the newcomers would replace the septuagenarians and one octogenarian, “because they are already retireable”.
“Regular” ATCs undergo a six-month rigorous academic training on various subjects. The new ramp controllers were schooled for a brief period, avoiding some academic subjects that were considered not a requirement to become a ramp controller.
For example, approach-radar and area-radar control are subjects that had to be studied in order to become a licensed radar air controller, according to Willy Borja, former Caap deputy manager.
However, unlike regular ATCs who take a licensure examination with the Caap, these 20 beginners were allegedly given “certificates” by the Caap to qualify as ramp controller.
Of the original 20 candidates, 11 are now assigned in the four passenger terminals. Of these, two are at the Naia Terminal 1, three at the Naia Terminal 2, two at the
Naia Terminal 3 and two at the Naia Terminal 4. The rest are at the “office” undergoing transition training, according to Medalla.
The Naia was obliged to recruit newcomers after a few of the ramp controllers, during the past years, opted to work abroad because of the disparity in take-home pay.
Many of them were pirated by Middle East airports and were offered a starting salary of P100,000, according to Manny Hortaleza, former ATC and now ramp controller at the Naia Terminal 1.
Those left behind were mostly retired ATCs who were rehired by the Naia because they remain to be “licensed” ATC, which is a requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao).
Ponciano Torres, 80, is the oldest and is now ramp controller at the Naia Terminal 4. “Despite my age, I still run 3 kilometers a day and I don’t feel any bodily pain. I eat mostly vegetables and avoid eating meat,” Torres told the BusinessMirror.
He said he should have retired a long time ago but there were no “licensed” replacement that the Naia could field.
Ramp control became a necessity after the Naia expanded its terminals to four, out of the original one, according to Alger Ramo, ramp controller at the Naia Terminal 1.
He said ramp controllers were deployed because the scattered passenger terminals are no longer visible from the control tower, which used to direct airplanes to specific parking bays.
“Because of the complexity of the Naia airport layout today, ramp controllers became a necessity,” Ramo said, adding that their job is to direct airplanes to specific parking bays.
At the same time, he said the increase in traffic volume also made the ramp controllers an important cog in airport operation.
“Before they even start their engines, pilots has to call the ramp controllers to ask permission to start engine, otherwise, they would be wasting fuel while waiting in line for takeoff,” Ramo added. He said ramp controllers even direct pilots when to be “pushed back” from their parking slots by means of heavy tow trucks. Once the engines have started, ramp controllers guide the pilot toward the taxiway.
“Once on the entrance to the taxiway, that would be the time that ramp controllers hand over the pilot to the ground controller at the Manila Tower for taxi instructions toward the active runway,” he said.
“Once the pilot is ready to take to the air, the aerodrome controller who issues the clearance for takeoff,” Ramo added.
Ramp controllers also direct incoming flights, who had to navigate the various taxiways in order to reach their specific parking slots.
Last year the Manila Tower handled 280,000 landing and takeoff (runway events), an average of 767 aircraft a day. That is about 63 runway events per hour during a 12-hour peak period, or an average of 33 events per hour for 24 hours, according to Rudy Boctot, the president of an air traffic association.
More flights could have been handled, but the aviation authorities limited them to not more than 40 events per hour for safety considerations. “The Icao projected that 280,000 a year would double in the next five years. But our capacity has not improved. We need to address several related problems, such as airport efficiency, the continued exodus of air traffic controllers and the need to train more of them,” Boctot said.
“Presently, there are 700 air controllers nationwide, assisted by some 100 non-ATC at the communication facility,” he added.
Today, there are about 48 ramp licensed ramp controllers distributed across the four Naia passenger terminals. Of these, more than half are 70 years old.
However, the Naia could not do away with the old foggies for lack of replacement. Switching them for new hires would also require that the newcomers should have the required Icao license, issued by the Caap, Ramo said.
Image credits: Stephanie Tumampos