The Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) was awarded a Temporary Aerodrome Certificate by the country’s aviation regulator after it met 81 percent of requirements related to the facility and its operation.
“It’s temporary because we have still five more requirements to comply with. We are going to correct these five items for us to be given the final certification for the aerodrome clearance,” Miaa General Manager Ed Monreal said. He added that he is hoping all five items would be delivered before June. “It’s a big challenge, but we have to do it.”
The five items that need to be corrected are: leveling of the road mounds between the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 2 and Terminal 4; putting up maps to indicate the airport’s runway coordinates; addressing the wildlife-hazard management; putting a facility-operations manual; and publishing updated aeronautical information.
Some eight years ago, the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao) told the Miaa to resolve some of the requirements they uncovered following a regular audit with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap).
Although there was compliance of about 60 percent over the years, the Miaa failed to get the full aerodrome certification.
An Aerodrome certification meant the Miaa has complied with the high standards set by the Icao to be able to operate as an international airport.
Initially, Monreal said, there are about 500 items that the authority needs to comply with. The number was reduced to 129 in 2010, until it reached 60.
Last September the aviation regulator told the Miaa that it is necessary to comply with the rest of the requirements as part of the Icao standard.
“Within a short span of time, the Miaa was able to make some rectifications and managed to get 81 percent of the compliance. The passing grade is about 70 points,” Monreal stressed.
He said only 19 points remain to be complied with to come up with the 100-percent rating.
Monreal noted that, while other airports in the country had already obtained their certification, the Miaa has waited eight years to receive the temporary aerodrome certification.
He said the reason it is difficult to meet all the requirements is the country’s premier gateway is so big and extensive, with a land area of 645 hectares.
“The Naia has almost 750 flights a day, that’s why our certification was a little bit late.”
On the other hand, Monreal said the air-congestion problem is also being resolved.
“The Miaa has made policies, together with the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Caap to settle the slotting problems with some local air carriers. Flight operations, flight efficiency and on-time performance have greatly improved because of restrictions and new policies we implemented for international and domestic flight operations. We were likewise able to level the playing field for airlines by eliminating ‘colorum’ flights,” Monreal added without elaborating.