Legazpi airport executive gets ax

MANILA, Philippines - The manager of Legazpi City airport in Albay was relieved yesterday after a van driven by his son almost collided with a plane on the runway last Saturday.

Frisco Sto. Domingo was replaced last Monday by Edgardo Ramos on orders of Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, according to Undersecretary Thompson Lantion, Mendoza’s de facto spokesman.

“(Sto. Domingo) was ordered to report here at the CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) headquarters,” Lantion said

Sto. Domingo will be on “floating status” at the CAAP, he added.

At Malacañang, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said yesterday Frisco Sto. Domingo has been suspended pending an investigation into the incident at Legaspi City airport involving his son.

In Legaspi City, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has advised Sto. Domingo to file his immediate retirement.

“The increasing number of flights at the city airport, as well as the new Bicol International Airport to be constructed at Barangay Alobo in Daraga town, shows that such violation of basic safety rules is a disgrace to our rising reputation as a tourism destination, a disservice to the riding public and temporary setback to our tourism effort,” he said.

Salceda and Legaspi City Mayor Noel Rosal immediately asked for the suspension and relief of Sto. Domingo after his son’s van almost collided with a Cebu Pacific flight from Cebu last Saturday afternoon.

Senior Superintendent Emmanuel Tallento, Police Aviation Security Group commander in Legaspi, will also be investigated, Rosal added.

Sto. Domingo went on official leave of absence following the incident involving his son and namesake, Frisco Sto. Domingo Jr.

Last Saturday, Cebu Pacific flight CEB172 aborted its landing at 2:10 p.m. when Sto. Domingo Jr.’s car, a Delica Lite Ace van, crossed the runway while the plane was about to land.

The plane circled the runway and safely landed some 10 minutes later.

The elder Sto. Domingo was also the manager of the Daet, Naga, Bulan, and Virac airports.

Director General Ruben Ciron of the CAAP sent a team of investigators to Legaspi last Monday to conduct an investigation.

The group consists of Col. Jose R. Saplan, chairman of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board; Gil Macapagal of the Enforcement and Legal Service, and Luciano Macose, assistant chief of administration and also an airways communications specialist.

Reports reaching Ciron said that CEB 172 originated from Mactan International Airport in Cebu.

Prior to a plane’s landing, the control tower activates the airport siren with a series of blasts to warn everyone in the vicinity of an approaching airplane.

The siren is a warning to civilians not to cross the runway or enter the aircraft movement area, encompassing the tarmac and the parking lots, except employees of the CAAP and those connected with airline companies.

Legaspi control tower noted heavy rains and poor visibility at the time of the incident, Ciron said.

Shortly after the incident, Sto. Domingo Jr. said he did not hear the siren or see the incoming plane due to poor visibility.

However, Ciron said that the excuse does not absolve Sto. Domingo of his liability.

Ciron also ordered a review of all existing security measures in key airports, along with appropriate remedies to prevent similar incidents.

The plane was carrying 80 passengers including Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and his family.

Rosal said he and his party as well as Tourism regional director Nini Ravanilla were waiting for Durano’s arrival from Cebu when they saw the plane suddenly abort landing as a gray van crossed the runway from out of nowhere.

Lantion said that they will await the results of the CAAP probe ordered by Ciron before issuing the punishment for Sto. Domingo.

Sto. Domingo, it was learned, was not the airport manager on duty during the incident since he was in Iloilo City on official CAAP business.

Philippine Airlines studying new flights to Australia following air talks

LOCAL CARRIERS are studying the feasibility of mounting flights to Australia after two-day air talks yielded more entitlements for the Philippines.From 2,500 seats, flights between Manila and Clark to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth have been increased to a maximum of 6,000 seats per week.Flights between other regional airports in Australia and airports in the Philippines have no capacity or frequency restrictions."We welcome the developments in the recent RP-Australia air talks. 

We are always looking for new destinations that we can include in our route network expansion," Candice A. Iyog, vice-president for marketing of the Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific, said."The Philippines’ strategic location allows us to explore this linkage opportunity," Ms. Iyog added.Businessman Alfredo M. Yao said his budget airline Zest Airways, Inc., is likewise interested in mounting flights to Australia."Yes, there is a possibility. We are looking at it. We sent a representative to the negotiations in Australia because we are interested," Mr. Yao said.

But dominant carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it has yet to study if it would get more entitlements to Australia. In October, PAL increased flights to Melbourne and Sydney to daily from five times a week."We are still studying the market. It would depend if there is demand," said PAL spokesman Jonathan P. Gesmundo.South East Asian Airlines President Avelino L. Zapanta said he was "cautious" regarding expansion because of the economic climate."We will be studying it, but right now it might foolhardy or unjustifiable to expand," Mr. Zapanta said.The Philippine negotiating panel, led by Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Doroteo A. Reyes II, included representatives from the departments of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, and Tourism, as well as the Civil Aeronautics Board and airport authorities.

The Australian air panel, meanwhile, was headed by Iaian Lumsden, director of the bilateral aviation and airports division of Australia’s Department of Transport and Regional Services.Local airlines were also given fifth freedom traffic rights, meaning they can pick up passengers in Australia before flying to another destination in another country — except Singapore and the United States — but the final destination must be New Zealand.

Australian carriers can pick up passengers from the Philippines en route to Port Moresby and another point, but the final destination must be any of the following: Hong Kong, Japan, India, Bahrain, Iran, Greece, Austria, France, the United Kingdom, and two additional points to be nominated, except the US, Canada and China.Flights going to Japan, however, were restricted to 2,500 seats each per week.

Lucky Escape for Clark Aviation MPL Cadet

A Clark Aviation MPL (Multi Crew Pilot License) Cadet had a narrow escape yesterday about Lunch time when his Cessna 172-S aircraft stalled after conducting a "Touch and Go" procedure

The aircraft came to rest, badly damaged, at the approach end or Runway 20 at Omni Aviation Airstrip on th eClark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines.

Witnesses to the accident said they were able to see the complete top of the aircraft as it climbed out after the "Touch and Go" manouver, indicating a very high angle of attack. They aircraft appeared to Stall, dipping its right wing first, then turning left and impacting the ground to the left of Runway 02.

First responders found the pilot vacated from the aircraft which had fuel dripping in volume from the right wing tank. The pilot sustained facial injuries and an Ambulance and Paramedic team from the Philippine Airforce transported the pilot to hospital.

Over the past several months observers have often commented on the departure procedures executed by the Clark Aviation training aircraft, including many observed "High Energy" Departures (Converting takeoff speed to height by pulling back on the controls)

The aircraft was observed to have its Flaps in the Fully Extended Position after it impacted the ground.

This is one very lucky young man ...

Cebu Pacific offers domestic to international flight connections with no surcharges

Cebu Pacific (CEB) will offer domestic to international flight connections with no surcharges starting on 16-Mar-09, bringing down its fares further by as much as 15% or more than PHP1,000 per way.

CEB VP for marketing and distribution, Candice Iyog said, “We hope this will encourage more tourists to visit the Philippines and its wonderful attractions. This will also help returning OFWs save more as they take connecting flights to their families in the provinces.”

Incident: Cebu Pacific AT72 at Legaspi on Mar 14th 2009, runway incursion during landing

A Cebu Pacific Airlines Aerospatiale ATR-72-500, flight 5J-172 from Cebu to Legaspi (Philippines) with 68 passengers, was almost into the flare to Legaspi, when a van of the airport authority crossed the runway without authorization. The Cebu Pacific crew initiated a go-around and landed safely a few minutes later.

The incident was observed by the Legaspi City Mayor, who immediately informed the Civil Aviation Authority about the incident. The van was reportedly driven by the son of the local representative of the Air Transportation Office ATO.

Story at: http://avherald.com/h?article=4169150d

Malaysian Inaugural hot air balloon fiesta

IF motorists travelling to Putrajaya early last month were caught by surprise at the sight of two colourful hot air balloons slowly floating over several ministries in Precinct 2, then watch out next week when 15 more will fill the sky for four days from March 19 to March 22.

Their appearance will be in conjunction with the inaugural Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2009.

A publicity stunt was held at the Palace of Golden Horses Hotel in Seri Kembangan where reporters were invited to take a static ride in two balloons.

A total of 10 countries are taking part in the international show with two participants from Malaysia — AKA Balloon and Cat Balloon and with Belgium entering six.

Other participants are Mug Balloon (New Zealand); Hs-Fly Balloon, Peacock and Paddy 2 (Netherlands); Solidaires Par Nature and Independence (France), Voyager (US); Reg.No. RPS 1201 (Philippines); Heart Balloon (Switzerland) and Yui (Japan).

The participants from Belgium are Reg.No.00-Bex, Orange, Nelly-B, Reg.No.00-BZA and Clown.


Crowed puller: Two hot-air balloons that will be on show at the Inaugural Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta this month at Precinct 2 being introduced to the media at the Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel in Seri Kembangan.

The four-day event will be co-organised by the Malaysian Sport Aviation Federation (MSAF) and AKA Balloon Sdn Bhd which was formed in 1993.

MSAF and AKA Balloon signed a MoU with their sponsors and partners — MASkargo, Petronas Dagangan Berhad, Palace of the Golden Horses, Kelantan Delights, Media Prima Berhad, Putrajaya Corporation, Putrajaya Tourism Action Council and Tourism Malaysia.

According to MSAF vice-president Khairuddin Abdul Rani, the MoU signifies the support for the inaugural event which is due to be an annual event in the tourism calendar.

Apart from the daily sorties of hot air balloons, the public will also be treated to other flying events featuring para-motor, remote-controlled planes, helicopters, aero models and professional kite-flying.

“Rides in the hot air balloons will not be offered to the public. Instead visitors can enjoy viewing thrilling take-offs and landings.

“It would be simply impossible to entertain requests from the public especially when we are anticipating more than 100,000 people to turn up for the four-day event,’’ said Khairuddin.

According to him, international hot air balloon events in the Philippines, which is in its seventh year, easily attract more than 400,000 spectators, while those in Pattaya, Thailand, attracts between 250,000 and 300,000 spectators.

Khairuddin said there was a potential in this sport as there were many hot air balloon enthusiasts taking part in other international events.

Asked what prompted him to organise a hot air balloon fiesta in Putrajaya, Khairuddin said: “I was at one of the international events when I noticed Malaysians taking part. One of them approached me to have a similar event in Malaysia.’’

Khairuiddin, who has been interested in hot air balloons since he was in college, has flown in South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Britain and the Philippines.

He along with Mohd Sobri (Cat Balloon), a qualified hot air balloon pilot since 1995, are the two Malaysian participants whose long-term objective is to put Malaysia on par with other established events like Saga in Japan or Albuquerque in the United States.

Mohd Sobri, who is the CEO of a local IT company, has flown the hot air balloon all over the world, from the Austrian Alps to the island of Cheju in South Korea.

His ambition is to make Alor Setar, his hometown, a name in the ballooning circle like Saga or Albuquerque.

Khairuddin added that the highlight of the fiesta would be an enchanting Night Glow scheduled to take place on the night of March 21, from 8.30pm to 9pm.

“The hot air balloons will be set up as if they are going to take off and under coded instructions via radio communications, the pilots will create a variety of dazzling effects set to a special music mix,’’ he said.

Cruise Tasik Putrajaya and Perahu Dondang Sayang will be offering special rates during the fiesta for their sightseeing cruise to give spectators the chance to experience Putrajaya like never before.

The fiesta will be held at the car park of the Millennium Monument in Precinct 2 from 7am to 7pm. Entrance is free.

For more information, visit www.myballoonfiesta.com or call: 03-74940298

Clark mulls Pacific Avia Group proposal for new terminal

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – After a failed bidding for the construction of a modern passenger terminal at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here, the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) has announced it is now evaluating Pacific Avia Group, Inc. (PAGI) as possible joint venture (JV) partner in the project that could cost anywhere from P3 billion to P7 billion.

In a statement, CIAC vice president for administration and finance Romeo Dyoco, who chairs the joint venture-selection Committee (JV-SC), said whoever will be CIAC’s partner will “design, finance, construct and operate” the proposed terminal 2 which will increase the passenger capacity of the old but upgraded terminal 1 that was constructed by the Americans when Clark was still a US air force base.

He said PAGI has been accepted by JV-SC “for detailed evaluation and eligibility check” which is expected to be finished by March 13. After passing this requirement, PAGI “will be subjected to a competitive challenge of stage 3” process, it said.

CIAC cited the need to construct a bigger passenger terminal “due to the significant increases in the volume of flights and international passengers during the past three years” and its “mandate” to transform the DMIA into a premiere international gateway of the country.

In May last year, CIAC announced the bidding for the terminal project, soliciting three companies which submitted bid documents. Admiral Energy of the US passed the bidding but later failed to submit proof of its track record in the operation of an international passenger terminal.

CIAC said it consulted with and got the go signal from the Office of Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) to pursue the project through the so-called competitive challenge process under its old JV guidelines.

It noted that last November, it received four unsolicited proposals under such process, inclusing those from PAGI, Philco Aero Consortium, R–II Holdings,Inc. and SNC – Lavalin International, Inc.

PAGI, the only local group among the four, is composed of A.M. Oreta Construction Co., DHL Philippines, DRI Holdings, EGIS AVIA S.A., Pentagon Development Corp., the Bank of Commerce and Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose.

CIAC initially approved the proposal of R – II Holdings, but it was later found to have failed to cope with “minimum non negotiable issues required for the project”.

Last Jan. 8, PAGI submitted a complete proposal for the terminal project and this was received favorably by CIAC, even as a new party, the Eugenio Group, also submitted its proposal.

Last Feb. 27, the JV-SC received another proposal from Al Mal Proposal from the Al Karafi Group.

“For very critical reasons on the substance of their proposals and the contextual conditions and requirements of their proposals both the Eugenio Consortium and the Al Mal were rejected,” CIAC said.

“The CIAC joint venture selection committee (JVSC) evaluated both proposals head to head and item to item, and arrived at the conclusion that the PAGI, proposal met its minimum requirements and is vastly superior to the Eugenio CIAC noted that while the present terminal was upgraded last year, its capacity is limited to only 1.5 million passengers per year.

CIAC said, however, that other facilities have been installed to modernize DMIA. These include radars, runway lights and signages, a second runway, modern aviation security and emergency systems, and terminal carousel and x-ray machines.

Airport officials also said they are eyeing a new terminal that could increase DMIA’s passenger capacity from three to seven million passengers annually.

Philippine Civil Aviation pressed to restore US confidence

STAKEHOLDERS in the Philippine travel and tourism industry on Friday want to know if the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has made any move to restore US confidence in Philippine air carriers.

This developed after the United States’ Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) included the country on the list of 21 countries under the restrictive Category 2.

Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas), said CAA’s action is crucial because Category 2 restricts flights to the US, thus putting on hold any plan by Philippine air carriers to expand and modernize their fleet.

Rep. Monico Puentevella fast-tracked the creation of CAA on March 5, 2008, to replace the Air Transportation Office (ATO) following FAA’s verdict that “the Philippines is an unsafe port of origin.”

In downgrading the country in January last year from the higher safety and security rating in Category 1 to Category 2, the FAA cited “failure to provide safety oversight of its air carrier operators in accordance with safety oversight standards set by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),” a United Nations organization

Joseph said Category 2 is very onerous, citing a provision that prevents airlines from changing an aircraft for a better one, notwithstanding that the replacement is made by a tested and trusted American company.

He said President Gloria Arroyo gave CAA a marching order to resolve the Category 2 problem within 90 days, but there has not been any development since the directive was issued a year ago.

“What has happened to CAA? What is the status of the safety upgrades?” Naitas wanted to know. “There is no update,” Joseph said.

He said the bigger problem in not getting a higher safety rating is that Europe and other countries could follow the action of the US FAA, endangering further the growth of Philippine civil aviation.

He said one reason CAA has not made any major move to reinstate the Philippines to Category 1 might be due to its lack of representative from private stake-holders. Moreover, there are not enough knowledgeable people in the agency who can address and resolve the problem, he added.

“There should be somebody in the CAA board who understands air safety, security and airline operations,” Joseph said.

He suggested that CAA should tap the private sector for experienced airline executives who can help with the necessary improvements that would remove the obstacles for the country’s return to Category 1.

He said Congress could use its oversight function and find out how the law that created CAA is being implemented and what the agency is now doing to solve problems in civil aviation.

Plane's tire bursts upon landing in the Philippines

CEBU CITY, Philippines ? A light aircraft that came from a training flight met a minor accident when it landed at the general aviation area of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Saturday.

The light plane, with tail number RPC 4433 and operated by Aviatour, had just finished its training flight when its main right wheel tire exploded when it landed at 5:52 p.m. Saturday, according to Samuel Elle, MCIA?s manager for domestic operation.


Fortunately, the pilot, identified as Captain Allan Kho and his student pilot, Manish Ratna Shakya, a Nepalese, were not hurt, Elle said. The two departed from the airport at 4:27 p.m. for the training flight, Elle added.
The cause of the accident was still under investigation, he said.

Elle said the incident did not cause any disruption in the airport?s operation as the damaged aircraft was immediately towed to a hangar, or at about 6:04 p.m.

PAF diamond flies again after 30 years, Defense chief leads formation

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga -- On Thursday, the skies over the former Clark Airbase in Pampanga saw a spectacle not seen for three decades as 16 planes formed a diamond formation as they flew past.

The flyby, led by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who is a licensed pilot, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Alexander Yano, and Air Force chief Lieutenant General Oscar Rabena, marked the maiden flight of 15 T-41 Bravo Trainer Planes donated to the Philippines Air Forces by South Korea.

The 15 planes, which Teodoro had just accepted from South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Choi Joong-Kyung in a turnover ceremony, were joined by an SF-260 Marchetti to complete the 16-plane formation.

"It has been a long while na hindi natin nakita sa ere ang diamond formation na kasing laki nito [that we have not seen a diamond formation as large as this in the air]," Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Alan Ballesteros said.

So long ago, in fact, that Ballesteros said the last 16-plane diamond formation before Thursday’s was that of Saber jets of the defunct 5th Fighter Wing that took off from Basa Airbase in Pampanga in the mid-1970s, when the Philippine Air Force was at the peak of its strength.

Ballesteros, who was then a training cadet in the Philippine Air Force Flying School (PAFFS) at Basa, explained that the large diamond formation symbolizes “cohesion, unity and pride.”

Thus, while the Thursday flyby was not as spectacular as the one he remembered from his cadet days, Ballesteros said he was nevertheless happy to see the diamond in the air.

"Something is happening, may naidadagdag na eroplano sa atin [our planes have increased]," he said, especially at a time when the Air Force is having difficulty training its personnel.

Teodoro, in a separate interview, acknowledged it would take a long time for the Air Force to regain its peak strength, much less acquire modern fighter aircraft.

Asked how soon he thought this would happen, he replied: "Show me the money and I'll show you as soon as possible."

Brand new, top-of-the-line attack aircraft can cost up to $83 million or P3.7 billion each, he said.

At the moment, Teodoro said what the country needs are aircraft for internal security and logistical aircraft such as helicopters and transport planes.

Besides, he added, "Wala namang bansa na gusto pang gumyera sa ibang bansa unless siguro forced-to-good na [There is no country that wants to wage war against other countries, anyway, unless forced to do so]."

But Teodoro said the planes donated by South Korea will help ease the Air Force’s three-year backlog in training its personnel, caused by a lack of trainer aircraft.

Before South Korea donated the planes, which it had decommissioned in 2007, the Air Force only had eight T-41 Bravo aircraft and could train only 58 flight students a year, Philippine Air Force spokesman Major Gerardo Zamudio said.

The donated plans will be deployed in PAFFS, now based at Fernando Air Base in Lipa, Batangas, Teodoro said.

This year, he added, the Air Force will also be acquiring 16 new SF-260 Marchetti aircraft.

South Korea gives planes to Philippine Air Force

The Philippine military has received 15 units of T-41-B planes from South Korea, which would to train Filipino pilots on better territorial defense, the Air Force announced Wednesday.

The newly assembled planes were made by the US-based Cessna Aircraft Co. and would be used primarily to train the pool student pilots who have been waiting for months to fly an aircraft, according to a statement from the Philippine Air Force.

The aircraft were disassembled and shipped to the Philippines in December. They were re-assembled at Clark Air Base last month.

The Air Force also admitted that it did not have enough trainer planes to accommodate all its student pilots, as the military only has eight operational Cessna planes.

“Actually, it will speed up the training and ease the backlog in the training of students,” Air Force spokesman Gerardo Zamudio told reporters also on Wednesday.

The majority of aviation schools prefer to train on the T41 Cessna plane because of its basic setup that is easy for the students to learn, according to the Air Force.

Zamudio said the delivery of the aircraft was in consonance with a Memorandum of Understanding on Logistics and Defense Industry Cooperation Agreement signed by the Philippines and South Korea in 1994 to enhance military cooperation.

The donation from South Korea brings to 23 the number of operational Cessna trainer planes owned by the Philippines Air Force, which aims to shift from internal security operations to territorial defense mode by 2012.

Token of friendship

Besides the new Cessna planes, the Korean government earlier donated 12 PK boats or high-speed surveillance patrol vessels, 10 PKM boats, three F-5/A aircraft, 16 buses for the Philippine Military Academy, parachutes, field telephones, Kevlar ballistic helmets, engineering equip­ments and ammunition and maintenance parts for the patrol boats.

The donations are tokens of friendship of the South Korean government to the Philippines in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of relations between the two countries. South Korean officials have also said that they have not forgotten that the Philippines dispatched 7,000 troops—including Lt. Fidel Ramos, who later became a Philippine president—to fight against the communist North Korean regime in the 1950s.

The South Korean Embassy in Manila has events lined up for the next 12 months to celebrate the 60th anniversary of relations with the Philippines. The anniversary was kicked off last week with a business forum in Manila attended by about 100 high-level government officials and business executives. The embassy also hosted a South Korean food festival and fireworks display in Manila on Tuesday night.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and the Air Force commander, Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena, are to lead the official turnover ceremony today at Clark Airbase in Pampanga. Also joining them is South Korean Ambassador Choi Jung-Kyung.

Teodoro, a certified pilot, is expected to lead pilots in a simultaneous maiden flight after the ceremonial turnover.

Inter Island Airlines to operate scheduled flights from Vigan City.

Inter Island are the long established airline in the Philippines who have been charter and air taxi services for over 20 years.
As of March 19 Inter Island Airlines are to become a scheduled carrier when they commence domestic flights from Mindoro airport in Vigan City to the capital Manila. Flights will operate on Thurs and Sunday leaving Vigan at 1600 and the return flights are on Fri and Monday departing Manila at 0615. The presence of scheduled flights to Vigan City will be a welcome tourism boost as well as creating and important air link with Manila that will be of benefit to the commercial sector.
Vigan City is a town of historic importance and is a UNESCO Heritage Site and is located on the western coast of the large island of Luzon, facing the South China Sea.
It is also is one of numerous Hispanic towns in the Philippines, and is well-known for its cobblestone streets, and a unique architecture that fuses Philippine building design, and construction with colonial European architecture.
The airline has various aircraft in its fleet and range from ten seater piston engined planes to jets with a seating capacity of close on 200 passengers.

Cebu Pacific Airplane Stuck On Manila Airport Runway

An airplane of Philippine budget carrier Cebu Pacific got stuck in the runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Wednesday morning, delaying or cancelling domestic and international flights.

Candice Lyog, spokesperson for Cebu Pacific, said the A320 aircraft was on its way to General Santos, in southern Philippines, when its rear left wheel sank about five-inches deep into a still soft asphalt portion of the runway.

Lyog said the plane was scheduled to leave Manila at 7:00 am and was just waiting for its turn to take off at the time of the incident.

At least 161 passengers bound for General Santos and 156 passengers bound for Manila will not be able to fly on Wednesday, as Iyog said the flight would be rescheduled on Thursday.

ZEST Air offers all-you-can-drink Zest-O juice

Zest Airways, Inc. intends to slug it out with the big boys in the airline industry by offering competitive rates and all the Zest-O juice you can drink in flight.

Zest Air will launch its maiden flight between Davao and Manila on March 1. Mark E. Hilario, Zest Air assistant vice-president for sales and marketing, told reporters the carrier was undeterred by the slowing economy and the price wars between bigger rivals Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

"The challenge really is how we can create a travel need through good package and competitive rates. Our focus is to give them good service and [that includes] all-you-can-drink Zest-O products," he said. Zest Air is owned by juice magnate Alfredo M. Yao, who acquired Asian Spirit, Inc. in March last year.

Neil Jason P. Ampo, passenger sales executive, said all the fleets of Asian Spirit had been mothballed since Zest Air decided it was best to start fresh. According to its Web site, the company has a fleet of two Airbus 320s and five MA60 aircraft. "It’s very hard to create awareness in the market so we want to tie up with travel agencies and hotels for a good package for local and foreign passengers," he said.

Last week, Zest Air executives met with local travel agents and operators in this city to discuss package rates for the Manila-Davao routes, to be served by a 162-seater Airbus 320 and the smaller 56-seater Xian MA60 turbo prop airplane.

A promotional all-in rate of P1,698 will offered initially for the Manila-Davao route. But Mr. Ampo said the price would go up to P1,788 after the promotional period.

The airline will also offer flights to Caticlan, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Legaspi, Marinduque, Naga, Puerto Princesa, San Jose and Virac from Manila aside from its regular routes to Tagbilaran, Tacloban, Iloilo, Cebu, Kalibo and Davao.

Mr. Hilario said Zest Air would launch in May its Incheon, South Korea service — its first international flight, although it will be a chartered flight to accommodate Korean tourists and students coming here.

Zest Air is also looking at Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China. "For now, we’re still testing the waters and we are not closing our doors to the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area)," he added

45 hurt as Northwest Airlines Boeing 747 hits turbulence over Japan

FORTY-FIVE people were injured, at least three seriously, when a Northwest Airlines Boeing 747 hit turbulence on the Manila-Tokyo leg of a US-bound flight.

Ambulances took the injured to local hospitals after the jet with 408 passengers and 14 crew landed at Narita International Airport outside Tokyo at 12.19pm local time (14:19 AEDT) today, an airport official said.

The flight had been set to continue on to Los Angeles after a stopover.

"The latest information we have is that 39 passengers were injured in addition to six crew members," said Toshiaki Nohara, a spokesman for Narita Airport Authority, which runs the airport.

A middle-aged woman passenger the TBS television network: "The person in front of me flew up to the ceiling. The person behind me collapsed and looked unconscious."

A young man said: "I was really scared. I thought I would die. The plane shook so much, and my whole body hovered up in the air. Inside the cabin, everybody was screaming loudly."

Northwest Airlines spokesman Masashi Takahashi said: "Air turbulence is believed to be the cause. The turbulence occurred 25 to 30 minutes before landing, when the seat belt light was on."

"During the flight, we received a message from the pilot saying two or three people were injured. But (the pilot) probably assessed that an emergency landing was not necessary," Takahashi said.

"It is possible that the people injured did not have their seatbelts on, otherwise all of the 422 (people aboard) would have been injured as well."

Television images in Japan showed medical workers carrying two passengers off the plane, one on a stretcher and one in a wheelchair, while one young girl could be seen wearing a bandage around her head.

Among the most seriously injured were three Philippine nationals, two men and one women, Jiji news agency reported, quoting local police.

A 55-year-old US passenger said he heard screams when the plane suddenly descended before rising again, some 30 minutes before landing, the Kyodo news agency reported without naming the man.

Some people who did not have their seatbelts fastened hit their heads on the ceiling and injured their necks, he reportedly said.

The accident occurred while the Boeing 747-400 aircraft was circling over waters off Japan's Chiba Prefecture awaiting permission to land at Narita airport, officials said.

Cebu Pacific opens domestic flights to Catarman, Calbayog, Tacloban City

Low-fare carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) will soon fly the Catarman, Northern Samar and Calbayog City, Samar routes.

Cebu Pacific has just acquired its seventh brand-new ATR 72-500 aircraft which it will use to fly to Catarman and Calbayog in Samar.Cebu Pacific's Michelle Eve de Guzman informed the Philippine Information Agency that the inaugural flight to Catarman will be on Valentines Day, February 14, 2009, at 7:00 o'clock in the morning.Meanwhile, the inaugural flight to Calbayog will be at 7:00 in the morning on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, Ms. De Guzman added.

To mark the announcement of these additional services, Cebu Pacific is offering a promotional P500 all-in 'Go Lite' seat sale for flights from Manila to Calbayog and Catarman.Ms. Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific VP for marketing and distribution, said "we are expanding our Manila hub operations with the arrival of our brand new ATR and will make more areas accessible through our low fares and new planes."Cebu Pacific will fly Manila-Catarman every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; and will fly Manila-Calbayog on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The coming in of Cebu Pacific make three airline companies flying the Catarman, Northern Samar and Calbayog City, Samar route.

FedEx to use Clark airport as transit point for Taiwan-China flights

FedEx, the world’s largest express transportation company, announced that it will use the Clark international airport to transit its Taiwan flights to and from its newly opened hub in China. 
The company will be using Clark as a landing and takeoff site to meet its needs that comply with current aviation regulations, the company said in a statement. 

“FedEx will maintain its presence in the Philippines and remains committed to the Philippine market in the long term as we expand our operations gateway in Manila, with back-office facilities being ramped up as part of a regional strategy to centralize certain services," said FedEx. 

The announcement was made a day after FedEx officially opened its $150 million AsiaOne superhub in Baiyun International Airport in Gaungzhou, China. 

The China hub, the company’s largest facility outside the US, replaced the Subic Bay facility. An estimated 136 flights will arrive at and depart from the new hub weekly. 

Meanwhile, the Subic Bay hub, which served its Asian market for 13 years, will be the company’s regional operations point for the next 30 years. 

However, FedEx did not say why it chose the Clark airport as its transit point over its previous home at the Subic Bay International Airport. 

It will serve the Philippines through the airports in Manila and Cebu.

Last Thursday, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said that FedEx will continue to have a contingent operating in Subic Bay until April this year. Around 550 employees will be affected by its China transfer.

Wings Over Asia

Folks, CHECK OUT the New Wings Over Asia site run by Meng Ng and his friends! It is a huge improvement over the old site. Have a look at http://www.wingsoverasia.com and join up, its Free!

They are having a Get Together in Thailand in early March, give some thought to meeting fellow aviators from all over asia. Should be a great time to meet new people so why not head on over ...

From Subic hub, FedEx flies to Clark

CLARK FREEPORT, Philippines—Federal Express (FedEx), the world’s largest express transportation company, has not really left the Philippines.

A day after starting the shutdown of its Asia-Pacific hub at the Subic Bay Freeport, FedEx made its inaugural flight into the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) on Friday night to prepare this former American military aviation complex as base for its Philippine operations, which would be linked to its new hub in China, an official said.

The arrival of FedEx’s MD-11 aircraft, which landed at 10:30 p.m. here, came after the American courier giant and Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) signed in October 2008 a memorandum of agreement allowing the firm to “locate and do operations in Clark,” CIAC president and chief executive officer Victor Jose Luciano told the Inquirer on Saturday.

The debut flight, which was done without fanfare, was part of test operations by FedEx, Luciano said.

He said this phase entailed doing technical stops for refueling and crew layover.

“Eventually, these would graduate into cargo operations,” Luciano said.

Two Inquirer sources, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak on the project, confirmed that FedEx has transferred all its ground equipment from Subic to Clark.

Under the agreement, FedEx will fly twice daily to and from Clark, except on Saturdays, according to one of the sources. The source said the destinations are China and Taiwan.

Luciano said China’s Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou would be the main hub of FedEx in the Asia-Pacific region.

FedEx has yet to issue an official statement on its Clark project.

The technical stop, said Luciano, is a sign that Clark is ideal and viable for FedEx’s freight-handling business.

DMIA used to be the biggest facility of the United States’ 13th Air Force in the Asia-Pacific. The Philippine government took more than a decade to turn it around, enjoying a boom in cargo operations and passenger flights since under the administration of President Macapagal-Arroyo, Luciano said.

Test flight

The test flight turned out to be a sentimental journey for the pilot, Capt. Phil John, Luciano said.

“When I met him on the plane, he told me: ‘I’m very happy to land here. The last time I was here was 20 years ago when I was with the US Air Force,’” he said.

John and his crew were received by Luciano, FedEx senior manager for operations Virgilio Mangisel and country manager Samuel David.

Another CIAC official, who asked not to be named because he has no authority to speak on the project, said CIAC and DMIA officials handled the transfer low key to avoid upsetting officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said he had been told of the Clark plan.

“This is to support their Philippine operations, not as a hub. That’s okay because FedEx remains to be in the Philippines,” Arreza said.

In an interview on Friday, Arreza said the government stands to lose P150 million annually from the pullout of FedEx hub in Subic.

The Subic Bay International Airport, home to FedEx for 14 years, is smaller than DMIA, which spans 2,500 hectares. The DMIA has two runways measuring 3.5 km each.

With new deal, Lancair is flying high

Colombian Air Force will get 25 planes in company’s largest deal ever

Redmond kit plane manufacturer Lancair International Inc. announced a $6.5 million licensing deal Tuesday that will allow a Colombian company to build 25 Lancair aircraft for the Colombian Air Force for pilot training.

The deal with the Colombian Aviation Industry Corp. marks Lancair’s largest deal ever, according to Lancair General Manager Tim Ong.“What’s novel about the deal is most military training occurs in certificated planes, but by purchasing kit planes and completing them in Colombia, their Air Force will get a relatively high performance training aircraft at a very reasonable cost,” said Max Trescott, a Mountain View, Calif.-based aviation industry consultant. “It looks like a very good deal for everyone involved.”Kit planes, or planes built from kits, can be certified airworthy by the Federal Aviation Administration if they are at least 51 percent built by the plane’s owner. Customers are responsible for getting the planes certified by the FAA. 

This differs from manufacturers, whose planes are certified by the FAA before they’re sold.Due to the growing demands for new technology, such as carbon composite materials, the FAA has proposed more stringent manufacturing regulations for kit planes.The Lancair planes built in Colombia will not be subject to FAA regulation.

The deal helps Lancair’s bottom line, Ong said, but he added that the company has not been buffeted by the recession as much as other airplane manufacturers. Ong said new orders are down, but a backlog of orders as well as the newly announced deal means the company is likely to weather 2009 “in good shape.”To prove the point, Ong said Lancair is hiring. Many airplane manufacturers, including industry giants Cessna Aircraft Co. and Hawker Beechcraft Corp., both based in Wichita, Kan., have recently laid off thousands of employees.The Colombian deal calls for Lancair to fabricate the planes’ carbon composite components either at its plant in Redmond or its fabrication facility in the Philippines. All of the planes’ components will then be shipped to Colombia for final assembly.Ong said the Colombian Air Force currently uses older, aluminum-frame Cessna trainers that have suffered corrosion damage on account of the humidity where the trainers are based. A switch to planes made from carbon composite materials eliminates the threat of corrosion, Ong said.

Plans call for the completion of one aircraft per month in Colombia, beginning Aug. 15, and increasing to two per month by the end of the year, according to the company.The model licensed to Colombia is a variant of the company’s Legacy FG model. The new aircraft, which exists on paper only, features a wing that’s 15 percent bigger than the Legacy FG wing, leading-edge cuffs and a ventral fin, all design attributes that provide stability in flight, Ong said.“The whole point is they want to develop infrastructure, create jobs, (provide) economic development and also bring in core engineering jobs; and, second, they have to replace their fleet of trainers anyway so it was not that much more expensive to do it this way,” Ong said.Lancair was founded in Southern California in 1984 by Lance Neibauer, a graphic artist who helped pioneer the use of composite materials in aircraft construction. 

The company moved to Redmond in 1991. It later spun off the manufacturing of FAA-certified, factory-built planes into a separate company — Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Co. — which Cessna bought out of bankruptcy in 2007.

According to the company, Lancair has delivered more than 2,000 kit airplanes. It employs 54 people at its plant neighboring the Redmond Airport and approximately 90 at its plant in the Philippines, Ong said.

Israeli tourist charged for 'bomb' joke

CEBU CITY, Philippines - Charges were filed on Monday against an Israeli tourist who was arrested on Sunday afternoon at the Mactan International Airport for joking that he had a bomb in his shoes.Eliav Goali, 23, was charged with violating Presidential Decree 1727, which declares it unlawful to make a false bomb threat. He later apologized for the joke.Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Tañada, chief of the 7th Police Center for Aviation Security, said he informed the Israeli Embassy in Manila about the arrest of Goali.He said he spoke with Israeli Consul Nissin Palomo, who later informed the parents of Goali in Jerusalem about the arrest.The consul also talked with Goali over the phone. 

"Talagang bibigyan siya ng assistance kasi iyong Israeli national walang ka-pera-perang hawak para sa pyansa (He will be given assistance since the Israeli national doesn't have money to post bail)," he said.Goali is a tourist from Jerusalem who visited the Philippines for a few days. He was with his cousin and best friend Naor Narkisi, 25. 

He was on his way to Manila to board a plane for Bangkok enroute to Australia where he would meet his girlfriend.

Goali and Narkisi were supposed to board the 3:50 p.m. Cebu Pacific flight to Manila prior to catching a connecting flight to Bangkok in the evening.During the final security check, when Goali was asked to remove his shoes he told airport personnel "there's a bomb in my shoes."

The airport staff immediately called 7th PCAS personnel, who arrested the two.Gaoli was brought to the Lapu-Lapu police station.

On Monday, Goali was brought to the Lapu-Lapu city prosecutor's office for the filing of the complaint.Investigators said they expect the case to be filed in court.It would be up to the judge to decide whether to deport the Israeli or not

Spirit of Manila Airlines gets first aircraft.

Low cost carrier, Spirit of Manila Airlines, has acquired it’s first aircraft, a Boeing 737-300 series which it has leased from Spirit leasing Corp. The 150 seater is likely to see operation on the DMIA Clark Freeport Zone to either Macau or Taipei.
Last November Spirit of manila gained approval to operate from DMIA to Taiwan, Macau plus Kuwait, Bahrain and Dubai in the Middle East. The airline has confirmed it is looking for larger aircraft to serve the Middle East airports but declined to give further details. It is also keen to build a network of regional and International services from Clark to key Asian and Mid Eastern destinations.
Currently no other Philippine airline operates to the Middle east after national carrier Philippine Airlines cancelled all flights to the region because it did not consider it a money making proposition.
We wish Spirit of Manila every success and we will monitor their progress with great interest. 

Israeli held in Cebu for bomb joke

CEBU CITY, Philippines -- An Israeli was arrested at the Mactan Cebu International Airport on Sunday for cracking a bomb joke.

Eliav Goali, 24, was arrested at around 3:30 p.m. by members of the 7th Police Center for Aviation Security (PCAS) led by Senior Police Officer 1 Cesar Lubiano.Police Officer 1 Ricky Calong said Goali was supposed to board Cebu Pacific flight 5J572 bound for Manila at 3:50 p.m. when he joked about having a bomb in his possession."There's a bomb in my shoes," the Israeli was quoted as saying during the final security check prior to boarding the plane, according to investigator to Police Officer 3 Marvin Bolic.Goali, a tourist, is from Jerusalem.

He had visited the Philippines for a few days and was headed for Manila to catch a plane for Bangkok en route to Australia to meet his girlfriend.

He was with another Israeli, Naor Narkisi, 25.Narkisi opted to stay with his friend.

Calong said Goali apologized for making the joke but he was nevertheless arrested for violation of Presidential Decree 1727 or for making a false bomb threat.

The Israeli national was brought 8 p.m. Sunday to the Lapu-lapu City police station where he would be detained pending the filing of appropriate charges against him, according to Calong.

Airline Proposes Selling Flights By The Minute

A start-up South African airline is hoping to cash in on the struggling economy by selling flights by the minute.Airtime Airlines is borrowing its model from the the cellphone industry and instead of charging customers a flat fee for a flight, it is proposing to charge customers by the length of the flight.Travelers purchase minutes much like they would for a prepaid cell phone and redeem them for a ticket, according to Business Day. 

Passengers can also bank minutes and "top off" their accounts, allowing them to possibly purchase flight minutes at a lower rate and use them at a later time when the minutes are more expensive. Of course, there's also the chance that the minutes could be cheaper later on and end up costing the passeneger more.Vino Eargambram, the airline's chief executive officer, told Business Day that Airtime is "a low-key operation targeting a very distinct market -- young professionals and self-employed business people." 

But the airline -- which is slated to launch later this month -- has yet to get off the ground and still needs to clear several regulatory hurdles and find some aircraft to fly after a deal for three Boeing 737s fell through.Other discount airlines are doing whatever they can to retain business. Cebu Pacific of the Philippines said it will remove fuel and insurance surcharges for all domestic flights, and in December JetBlue offered passengers bonus points for their rewards program when traveling with their small dog or cat.

South East Asian Airlines planning flights to Macau

South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) is planning to start flying to Macau as early as April, and despite the spiraling fuel prices and incursion of the major carriers, the airline will acquire two new airbuses which are scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of this year.
According to the Philippines News Agency, Avelino Zapanta, SEAir president, said this is the many firsts of SEAir this 2009.
Zapanta said the airline will also go international, noting that with the recent signing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Open Sky Agreement, “it is full speed ahead for SEAir as it plans to operate flights for Singapore, Macau, Incheon [in South Korea], Bangkok and Kaoshiung [in Taiwan].”
”In April 2009, we will fly to Singapore and Macau, [and] in August, Bangkok and Hong Kong, and in September, we are looking at Incheon, Bangkok and Kaoshiung,” Zapanta said.
All new flights will use the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga, Zapanta added.
According to the report, in November last year, flights from Puerto Princesa to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia were made available. The total routing of the operation is Clark-Caticlan-Puerto Princesa-Kota Kinabalu.
This is SEAir's first international flight which also serves as its entry point to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) market.
Meanwhile, Patrick Tan, vice president for commercial affairs, said “we believe in tourism as the industry of the future for the Philippines and SEAir wishes to continue to contribute in the tradition of its pioneering effort that started 14 years and recently has been manifested in new services to Tablas, Daet, Baler, Basco and Borongan.”
Aviation records show that in January to October last year, more than 35 percent of all flights to Caticlan in Boracay were via SEAir. There are at least four local carriers flying to the island paradise, the report added.
SEAir made 3,511 flights to and from Caticlan. This translates to 635 flights more than the nearest competitor.
SEAir is owned by foreign partnership of Iren Dornier and Nikos Gitsis with 40 percent, and the Filipino group of Tomas Lopez, Jr. with 60 percent. 

CAAP beefs up air traffic controllers in Zambo airport

ZAMBOANGA CITY- The Zamboanga City office of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said Wednesday that three new air traffic controllers were sent by the Air Traffic Service from Manila to augment manpower in the control tower.

Airport Manager Celso Bayabos said the new air traffic controllers were of great help for the airport’s operation since the tower only has a 13 people for its operation.Bayabos said that three of its 14 traffic controllers remain relieved from their post since an investigation has been going on.

Four traffic controllers were late reporting for work last December 26 because of the holidas. As a result three commercial flights that morning were affected after pilots complained no one in the tower was answering to give them permission to land.

Bayabos said the new air traffic controllers assumed work in Zamboanga Airport last January 5, and will remain until April.

CebPac plane makes emergency landing

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) A Cebu Pacific plane that experienced engine trouble made an emergency landing about 10 minutes after taking off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila Wednesday morning.

Flight 5J 893, bound for Caticlan, Aklan, landed safely at around 7:21 a.m. on the NAIA 1’s Runway 06 and it’s 53 passengers and four crew were unhurt, according to Manila International Airport Authority media affairs chief Connie Bungag.

The MIAA, which runs NAIA, said the pilot reported a problem in the ATR-72-500 propeller-plane’s right engine.

The passengers disembarked at the runway while the plane was moved to parking bay 114 Alpha at NAIA Terminal 3.

“The pilot noticed alarm lights blinking on the instrument panel which warned that something was wrong with the engine. He followed aviation procedures and prepared for emergency landing,” Cebu Pacific vice president for communications Candice Iyog later told reporters.

A statement from the airline issued around noon said all the 53 passengers were given travel vouchers and took another Cebu Pacific flight for Caticlan via Kalibo two hours later.

“The engine of the 11-month-old ATR 72-500 aircraft will be checked by an international maintenance crew from Cebu Pacific and the aircraft’s manufacturer, a subsidiary of Airbus’ parent company,” the statement read.

Caticlan and Kalibo are the gateways for tourists bound to the world-renowned resort island of Boracay.

Cebu Pacific has other spare planes and does not expect any delay in the airlines’ flight schedule this week, according to Iyog.

Filipino flies world’s biggest jet

THE AIRBUS A380, launched almost four years ago, is every inch a marketing tool as it is an advantage to airlines that own the world’s biggest commercial aircraft.

After all, only a handful of carriers have the 525-seater plane in their fleets given the Super jumbo jet’s premium $320-million price tag. The next biggest plane, the Boeing 747-400 from rival Boeing, costs $50 million to $100 million less.

Equally few and far between are the men than call themselves A380 pilots. But while no Philippine carrier can afford the jet, and no local airport can fully accommodate it, Filipinos can take pride in the fact that behind the wheel of one of the biggest man-made objects in the sky is one of their own.

"I guess you can say God smiled upon me and blessed me It’s the proverbial being at the right place at the right time," Nathaniel Jordan S. Calvo, the first and only Filipino A380 pilot in the world, said. "It’s like living a dream," he told BusinessWorld via e-mail.

The A380’s upper deck extends along almost the entire length of the fuselage, and its width is equivalent to that of a wide-body aircraft. This allows for a cabin with 50% more floor space than the Boeing 747-400 and provides seating for 525 people in a standard three-class configuration, or up to 853 passengers in an all-economy class configuration.

Nathaniel Jordan S. Calvo, the first and only Filipino A380 pilot in the world.

On Sept. 15, in the culmination of what he described as a "very intense and thorough training program," Mr. Calvo received his temporary license to fly the Super jumbo. For him, its was a dream come true.

"This is like the cherry on top of a cake. Not only do I get to fly the biggest and most modern airplane, but I am also very glad to have made some sort of history as being the first Filipino qualified to fly it," said Mr. Calvo, who works for Emirates Airline.

The 37-year-old Filipino-American pilot has childhood roots that are unmistakably Filipino. He studied at O.B. Montessori in Greenhills for his elementary education before moving to Manila Science for high school.

Upon graduation, Mr. Calvo took up mechanical engineering at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, before leaving for the US to continue his studies at Parks College of Saint Louis University. There, he earned a degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering.

After college, he entered the Flight Safety Academy in Florida, this time, not just to learn flying as a hobby, but as a trained professional. By 1995, less than five years after attending Saint Louis, Mr. Calvo was already flying as a professional.

"I can’t remember wanting to be anything else than a pilot," he said. With roots linked to a country that has more than eight million people, or roughly a tenth of its population working abroad to contribute more than $15 billion to the country’s economy yearly, Mr. Calvo is proud that he, along with other Filipino pilots, have risen above the usual profiling by foreigners.

"I am always proud to meet other Filipino pilots whenever I am flying around. It reaffirms my belief that we as Filipinos can always live up and even go beyond the typical stereotypes we usually face in other countries," he said.

While being able to fly the A380 is a feat in itself, he said knowing that jaws are dropping when people see the plane he flies is a bonus. "I like the fact than when flying, air traffic control designates our airplane type as Super jumbo to let air traffic know what a big airplane they are seeing on their radar screens," Mr. Calvo said.

Hearing other more experienced pilots over the radio say how big the A380 is, and calling it names like "a building with wings" does not fail to thrill him.

Happily married and raising his three-year-old son with his wife of eight years, Cecilia, Mr. Calvo does not have plans to have his wings clipped any time soon.

"For as long as God allows me to be a pilot" was how Mr. Calvo described his retirement plan. "Besides, when the day comes that I quit being a professional aviator, I still see myself flying around in my own little four-seater airplane," he added.

And his advice to other Filipinos working abroad? "Keep your head high and never let anyone put you down no matter what. Don’t be bothered by the type of work you may be in, as long as it’s honest living, you can and always should be proud."

2008 - well, what a year!

Hi All

I am sitting in my front yard, sipping on as bundy rum, listening to the firecrackers and trying to stop my dogs destroying the place as well as contemplating the year gone by

I wanted to write some prophetic words, but screw it. 

Happy New Year all, lets hope 2009 is better than 2008 for everyone ..

Put to rest after 67 years

After 67 years, a Hendersonville woman will say farewell to the fiance she never got to marry, a casualty of enemy fire in the early days of the Pacific fighting.

When World War II broke out Dec. 7, 1941, Navy Ensign Robert G. Tills was the pilot of a seaplane moored at Malalag Bay in the Philippines. The day after the surprise attack that propelled the U.S. into the war, Japanese fighter planes swooped in and sank Tills' PBY-4 Catalina flying plane. He went down with it, and his body wasn't recovered. 

A fellow crewman saw a Japanese fighter plane fire the shots that killed the young pilot. Tills was the first Navy officer lost in the U.S. defense of the Philippine islands.Shortly after that, his fiancee, Vicki Quandt Lee, attended his memorial service."It was very sad," Lee said last week from her Carolina Village home.More than 60 years later, the wreckage and the remains of the Manitowoc, Wis., sailor were recovered and Tills was identified using dental records."In October 2007, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command was notified by U.S. authorities in the Philippines that aircraft wreckage had been discovered in Malalag Bay," the Defense Department said. "A fragment of the wreckage bore the markings 'PBY-4.'"On Dec. 1, 2008, the Department of Defense officially announced it had identified Tills' remains.

After 67 years, family and friends are relieved by the news, including the Hendersonville woman who was in love with Tills at the time he was killed."I can't believe they found him under 60 feet of water," Lee said.Tills' remains will finally be put to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on March 23.For 53 years Vicki was married to Robert E. Lee, who has since passed away.She was attending Northwestern College in Watertown, Wis., in 1936 when she met Tills, a fellow student."We were meant for each other," said Lee, who is now 89.Tills later went to another college, then joined the Navy and studied aeronautical engineering."He joined the Navy to learn how to fly," Lee said.For the six years they were separated, in the late 1930s and early 1940s, they wrote one another often. They were going to get married after Tills came home in December 1941."Then they got him," Lee said.Tills' sister, Jean, was 11 years old when her older brother perished in the Philippine Islands.Jean Aplin, now 78, said the Navy notified her that her brother's remains were recovered from the aircraft wreckage in Malalag Bay. 

Through an Internet search, Aplin, who now lives in Arizona, found Vicki Lee in Hendersonville and told her about the discovery."That was a shock, that they found his body," Lee said.Jeff Miller, founder of HonorAir, and his wife, Tamara, plan to escort Lee to Arlington for the burial."I am looking forward to it," Lee said. "I can't believe it."According to Navy historical records, Tills enlisted in the Naval Reserves in 1937 at 19 years old. Two years later, he was commissioned as an ensign in the reserves and in April of 1941, he gained active military status.

Tills had a Navy destroyer escort named after him in June 1943. It was launched four months later, providing escort services against submarine and air attacks for Navy vessels and convoys.After the war, the USS Tills (DE 748) was converted to a training vessel and in 1969 the ship was sunk in a training exercise off the U.S. east coast, according to Navy historical records.

More Air Traffice Controller woes

Tardy air controller delays landing of 3 airplanes in Zambo

Three passenger aircraft failed to touch down on time at the Zamboanga Cit airport on Friday due to a "missing" air traffic controller.

A GMA Flash Report quoted Civil Aviation Authority manager Celso Bayabos as saying that the three airplanes were supposed to land at the airport at scheduled intervals.

However, the airplanes’ respective pilots ended up refusing to land after realizing that no airport officer was stationed at the control tower to guide them on their descent. 

The incident forced the three airplanes to hover in the air for a good one hour, before the pilots took the matters into their hands and decided to talk to one another over the radio to decide who would land first.

Bayabos said an air traffic controller was actually on duty at the time of the incident but had just reported late for work. He said the airport management is already dealing with the tardy controller and mulling for a possible reprimand.

Bayabos stressed that it was the first time that such incident ever happened at the Zamboanga airport and assured it would never happen again.

A number of flights were briefly delayed but airport operations have already gone back to normal after the incident. - 

FedEx initiates flight operations test at its new Asia Pacific hub

Agence France-Presse FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world's largest express transportation company, today announced the successful completion of its first flight operations test at the new Asia-Pacific Hub at Guangzhou in southern China. As a checkpoint to gauge the new operation's readiness, the achievement signified another milestone for the new hub in the lead up to its scheduled commencement of operations on February 6, 2009. The MD-11 aircraft landed at 5:50 a.m. at Baiyun International Airport from Subic Bay, Philippines. The flight was handled by the new FedEx hub team, utilizing the FedEx ramp control tower and the new 24,000 package per hour sort system. Following a successful operations' process, the flight departed on time for its final destination at Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris, France. This Asia-Europe flight route will operate four times per week. "Today's flight operations test in Guangzhou represents a significant step in our preparations for the opening of the largest FedEx hub outside the United States," said David L. Cunningham Jr., president, Asia Pacific, FedEx Express. "The hub reinforces our long-term commitment to this region and will further stimulate trade to and from the EU and Asia, and between the US-Asia trade lanes by providing our customers with fast and reliable service between the largest marketplaces in the world. In addition, the economic impact brought about by such an investment would benefit local businesses, the local economy and customers in China, as well as around the region." "The flight operations test was a success. It represents a major milestone in the opening of our new Asia Pacific hub," said Dennice Wilson, vice president, planning, engineering & hub operations, Asia Pacific, FedEx Express. "When operational, customers will receive the seamless, reliable service they expect from FedEx.

More Air Traffic Controller Woes in Manila

What is interesting about this articvle are two things:

1. Air Traffic Controllers in Manila are NOT on the CAAP (ATO) Payroll .. (Is Clark the same, may explain the double standards of implementing the rules relating to VFr, etc)

2. CAAP Mandate starts in january, does his mean that the new rules come nto effect governing licensing??

Read on ...

Air traffic controllers seek fat paychecks

By Vito Barcelo

Air traffic controllers will leave their posts at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals if they are not given a higher pay.

Naia senior controller Erlan Camarillo said at least 25 of the 52 Manila International Airport Authority employees have indicated plans of moving to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines next year if their demand would remain ignored.

MIAA general manager Alfonso Cusi said wage adjustment was a sensitive issue.

“We could not just increase the pay of our air controllers without creating a new problem for the rest of our employees,” he said. “The salaries of all government employees are governed by the Salary Standardization Law.”

Conceding his inability to stem the exodus, Cusi is appealing to Camarillo and his colleagues to weigh the possible disruption of operations at the Naia terminals.

Last March, Malacañang approved the law creating the Cvil Aviation Authority, replacing the Air Transportation Office.

The move was prompted by the decision of the US Federal Aviation Authority last year to downgrade the Philippines to category 2 due to “serious concerns” about the safety oversight on air carrier operations.

As in the former agency under the Transportation Department, CAAP under director general manager Ruben Cuiron operates the international airports in the cities of Laoag, Davao and Zamboanga, including a host of provincial terminals.

Camarillo and his fellow Naia controllers, who are in the MIAA payroll, claim that their salary level would be overtaken in January next year when CAAP’s mandate takes effect, exempting the new outfit from salary standardization.

The measure was meant to attract competent technical staff and training programs along with the purchase of suitable equipment meeting FAA requirements, for which reason the fiscally autonomous CAAP could retain its P3-billion revenue collection.

They noted that the lowest-paid CAAP air controllers would be receiving between P27,000 to P37,000 a month versus Naia’s P13,500.

“MIAA airport tower controllers or terminal controllers watch over all planes traveling through the airport’s airspace; their main responsibility is to organize the flow of aircraft into and out of the airport. Relying on radar and visual observation, they closely monitor all aircraft and guide pilots between the hangar or ramp and the end of the airport’s airspace,” Cusi said.

They also provide updates on flight conditions such as wind shear, a sudden change in the velocity or direction of the wind that can cause pilots to lose control of the aircraft.

FedEx delays opening of Guangzhou hub

The new intra-Asian hub for FedEx at Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport will not come on stream until some time next year. The integrator announced that the US$150 million facility would open in the first half of 2009, not before the end of this year, as originally planned.
Until the Baiyun hub becomes operational, FedEx will continue to use its present regional hub in Subic Bay. The Philippine hub has only half the capacity of the new Baiyun set-up, which was designed to handle 24,000 packages in an hour.
In the current economic climate, which has taken a heavy toll on air cargo volumes, FedEx should be comfortable with the capacity of Subic Bay. Air freight throughput in Hong Kong has declined steeply in recent months. In October, traffic at Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl), the airport's pre-eminent handler with over 70 percent market share, was down 9.8 percent, due to a 13.6 percent drop in imports and 10.7 percent fall in exports with transhipments down two percent.
Load factors and yields out of the Pearl River Delta have come under pressure, even though capacity grew less than previously expected. Northwest Airlines pulled its freighters out of Guangzhou this past summer, which the US airline had developed as an alternative to Hong Kong. Shenzhen-based Jade Cargo Airlines finally managed to bring its flight crew numbers to a level that permitted full utilisation of its aircraft fleet but decided to lease one freighter to Singapore-based Jett8.
Cathay Pacific's new Hong Kong cargo terminal may open later than scheduled. Construction of the $619 million facility commenced in September with a view to opening for business in the second half of 2011.
Stanley Hui, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong airport authority, warned in October that in the difficult environment and shrinking demand, "airlines are expected to scale back their operation or put on hold their expansion plans".
FedEx Asia-Pacific president David Cunningham stressed that the delay in the opening date of the hub was due to the complexities of the project itself and is not related to the current global economic conditions.
"The new operations date will provide FedEx the necessary time to fully test all systems and processes and work with the Guangzhou authorities to put all necessary approvals in place,'' he said.
The revised schedule would pose no service impact to FedEx customers as the current hub in Subic Bay would continue its operations, Cunningham said. 
A FedEx spokesman said: "The Guangzhou hub has been one of the most sophisticated projects the corporation has engaged upon and it's just a matter of necessity to take more time to deal with the complexities.''
FedEx's regional hub will be equipped with its own ramp control tower - the first for an integrator in China. The facility has 16 high-speed sorting lines, seven conveyor belts and about 90 document sorting splits.
The integrator has commenced operations testing for the Baiyun hub, including the Hong Kong-Guangzhou cross-border transportation processes, sort systems and flight operations.
Rival UPS began construction of its planned new intra-Asia hub at Shenzhen in late October. The new hub, which replaces Clark in the Philippines, is scheduled for opening in 2010.