The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
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The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
It seems that the great expectations generated by the creation of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines(CAAP) is not going to be met in the near future. The Aviation industry is still waiting for some semblance of leadership of the office in such area as aviation safety, efficiency in airport operations, good public service and in providing long range direction to an industry that has so much potential in the economic development of this country.
To wit, how is the CAAP addressing the findings and recommendations of the FAA and ICAO regarding our airport operations? Will we regain our Category I status? The downgrade to Category II had dire effects particularly on the transpacific operations of PAL.
To wit, how is the CAAP addressing the findings and recommendations of the FAA and ICAO regarding our airport operations? Will we regain our Category I status? The downgrade to Category II had dire effects particularly on the transpacific operations of PAL.
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hmm
how is the CAAP addressing the findings and recommendations of the FAA and ICAO regarding our airport operations?
by changing their name to CAAP.... and after that?? none...
as long as most of the people there received money from airlines and other operators, they will simply do nothing about it .. But they will try to make it look like theyre doing something ofcourse.
Its actually a shame to be downgraded from that category to a lower one. But lets be honest to ourselves.
Is there any changes with the CAAP ?
let me give you an example: there is one profitable airline in the Philippines whose aircraft are handled by a company that doesn't even have a hangar of their own.
Im amazed how their engineers and technicians do all their job outdoors.. or should I say on the Bays of the new Terminal 3?
Good thing the license I'm using right now doesn't have the RP-ATO or CAAP logo on it.
Love the Country, Hate the Government... Just simply CORRUPT!
by changing their name to CAAP.... and after that?? none...
as long as most of the people there received money from airlines and other operators, they will simply do nothing about it .. But they will try to make it look like theyre doing something ofcourse.
Its actually a shame to be downgraded from that category to a lower one. But lets be honest to ourselves.
Is there any changes with the CAAP ?
let me give you an example: there is one profitable airline in the Philippines whose aircraft are handled by a company that doesn't even have a hangar of their own.
Im amazed how their engineers and technicians do all their job outdoors.. or should I say on the Bays of the new Terminal 3?
Good thing the license I'm using right now doesn't have the RP-ATO or CAAP logo on it.
Love the Country, Hate the Government... Just simply CORRUPT!
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corruption
i have to agree with you, subsonic. we continue to be blighted by this disease called graft and corruption. and it is not just the government but also the people. we, the people, are as guilty as the politicians or public servants for tolerating their existence and by even agreeing to their terms sometimes. we pay their salaries thru the taxes we pay. so maybe we should altogether stop paying our taxes. anong say mo?
in most capital cities in Asia, their international airports were moved to the outskirts of the capital long, long time ago. they are connected to the metropolis by fast trains. additionally, these airports have parallel runways which provide for efficient simultaneous handling of departures and arrivals. sadly, our planners do not see these. only us, the airline pilots, see and experience these things. from their airconditioned offices and limited view and perspective on the matter, they obviously will fail to appreciate the benefit that can be derived from correct infrastructure.
under the present conditions, the congestion at manila TMA will continue to obstruct the development of our aviation industry. the industry won't be able to harness its full potential.
in most capital cities in Asia, their international airports were moved to the outskirts of the capital long, long time ago. they are connected to the metropolis by fast trains. additionally, these airports have parallel runways which provide for efficient simultaneous handling of departures and arrivals. sadly, our planners do not see these. only us, the airline pilots, see and experience these things. from their airconditioned offices and limited view and perspective on the matter, they obviously will fail to appreciate the benefit that can be derived from correct infrastructure.
under the present conditions, the congestion at manila TMA will continue to obstruct the development of our aviation industry. the industry won't be able to harness its full potential.
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I am one of the many ATCs working in Manila. I do agree on what has been said; expectations on CAAP will not be met. Infact, they will NEVER (short or long term) be met.
Ciron is on his way out. Whoever replaces him, I doubt if he/she can save the reputation of our Civil Aviation industry. They are all the same.. goodie-goodie sa simula then lumalabas din ang tunay na kulay in the end.
The ATCs, as civil servants, are getting paid by the taxpayers. Whatever amount we take home, I assure you.. those are honest and hard-earned money.
Some years ago, an issue has been raised on a meeting between the ATC facilities: how to decongest the air traffic in Manila? RPLC came to mind. When this was presented to the administration (then ATO), their reply was: "kikita ba tayo dyan?" (typical)
Ciron is on his way out. Whoever replaces him, I doubt if he/she can save the reputation of our Civil Aviation industry. They are all the same.. goodie-goodie sa simula then lumalabas din ang tunay na kulay in the end.
The ATCs, as civil servants, are getting paid by the taxpayers. Whatever amount we take home, I assure you.. those are honest and hard-earned money.
Some years ago, an issue has been raised on a meeting between the ATC facilities: how to decongest the air traffic in Manila? RPLC came to mind. When this was presented to the administration (then ATO), their reply was: "kikita ba tayo dyan?" (typical)
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new DG
RC used to "brag" about his spirituality as a pastor. unfortunately that is not nearly enough. however, i will take him anytime versus the DG he replaced who is the most shameless collector of under-the-table favors, which led to what subsonic has just described.
they tried to change the system, let's give them that. but the problem is they hired white men from ICAO as "consultants" and followed these guys blindly. without any technical know how, they were in no position to find out if the sanctimonious lectures of the white men were any good.
they surrendered their brains to people who have good english accent and no common sense.
they tried to change the system, let's give them that. but the problem is they hired white men from ICAO as "consultants" and followed these guys blindly. without any technical know how, they were in no position to find out if the sanctimonious lectures of the white men were any good.
they surrendered their brains to people who have good english accent and no common sense.
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congestion at the Manila TMA
AMIHAN
I would like to correct myself when I said "the airline pilots see and experience the efficiency of other Asian airports in handling arrivals and departures." I failed to mention that the ATC controllers are also at the short end of the air traffic situation at NAIA. I can only imagine the stress you are experiencing during the peak hours.
RPLC or DMIA is the only viable option we have to replace NAIA as the Philippines' international airport. The Aviation sector should clamor/work for this objective. The CAAP needs an office head that has a grasp of what the industry is all about. No more Generals, please. The industry is about business and safety in air operations. The CAAP is not concerned with air defense.
I would like to correct myself when I said "the airline pilots see and experience the efficiency of other Asian airports in handling arrivals and departures." I failed to mention that the ATC controllers are also at the short end of the air traffic situation at NAIA. I can only imagine the stress you are experiencing during the peak hours.
RPLC or DMIA is the only viable option we have to replace NAIA as the Philippines' international airport. The Aviation sector should clamor/work for this objective. The CAAP needs an office head that has a grasp of what the industry is all about. No more Generals, please. The industry is about business and safety in air operations. The CAAP is not concerned with air defense.
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One factor that contributes to the congestion is the runway configuration of RPLL. During peak hours, the runway would accommodate upto 60 movements an hour which is the norm basically for busy international airports. But while others have parallel runways, we have to makedo with a single runway. Its like having a single toll booth on an expressway collecting both ways. Imagine the traffic jam there.
I say, while we've been reclaiming Manila Bay to put up gigantic malls and exclusive subdivisions, why not build a parallel runway with equally good terminal on it. I just don't know if any builder still trust our government after what it did to PIATCo when they built NAIA terminal 3.
I say, while we've been reclaiming Manila Bay to put up gigantic malls and exclusive subdivisions, why not build a parallel runway with equally good terminal on it. I just don't know if any builder still trust our government after what it did to PIATCo when they built NAIA terminal 3.
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Unsafe Skies
RP among aviation safety flunkers
By Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star) Updated January 28, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is in a list of countries with unsafe civil aviation systems drawn up by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
ICAO has listed the Philippines among countries whose civil aviation was found with “significant safety concern” (SSC), according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines-Employees Union (CAAP-EU).
Cesar Lucero, CAAP-EU vice president, said that this was not surprising in view of the CAAP’s failure to address deficiencies of the country’s airport network.
“As we have said time and again, the Philippines will continue to fail to regain Category I status with the US FAA (United States Federal Aviation Authority) and get a satisfactory rating with the ICAO until the leadership of the CAAP, especially the director-general, Ruben Ciron, is replaced,” he said.
In an electronic bulletin last Dec. 18, the ICAO listed the countries with SSC findings as Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Congo, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Philippines, Rwanda, and Zambia.
“The safety oversight audit of the Philippines under the comprehensive systems approach revealed a Significant Safety Concern which remains unresolved by the State,” the ICAO said.
The SSC finding for the Philippines is a double whammy for the country’s local civil aviation industry after the US FAA downgrade of the country from a Category I to a Category II rating due to deficiencies in its civil aviation systems in December 2007.
The US FAA downgrade had caused the Arroyo government to rush passage of Republic Act 9497 which created the CAAP.
Lucero said Ciron, as CAAP director-general, had mainly attended to the hiring of his fellow retired military officers to vital and highly technical positions at the CAAP even without having civil aviation experience and expertise.
“We blame Mr. Ciron and his hiring binge of his fellow retired military generals and colonels and his fellow comrades in the Reform the Armed Forces of the Philippines Movement at the expense of organic ATO personnel who have civil aviation experience and expertise,” he said.
It will be recalled that the CAAP-EU has questioned Ciron’s appointment of retired military officers with no civil aviation management expertise in the CAAP since its creation in late 2008.
The group stressed under RA 9497, the CAAP was supposed to absorb the regular employees of the Air Transportation Office to retain the experienced air traffic controllers and other crucial technical employees of the agency.
Another reason for the creation of the CAAP was to enable it to retain its more than P2 billion income raised from the collection of landing and navigation fees to raise salaries of employees such as air traffic controllers, he added.
Sought for comment, Ciron downplayed the ICAO issuance of the SSC on the Philippines.
“We are addressing that already,” he said.
Ciron said that the reason for the SSC rating by the ICAO was the finding of ICAO inspectors that CAAP lacked technical personnel.
By Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star) Updated January 28, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is in a list of countries with unsafe civil aviation systems drawn up by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
ICAO has listed the Philippines among countries whose civil aviation was found with “significant safety concern” (SSC), according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines-Employees Union (CAAP-EU).
Cesar Lucero, CAAP-EU vice president, said that this was not surprising in view of the CAAP’s failure to address deficiencies of the country’s airport network.
“As we have said time and again, the Philippines will continue to fail to regain Category I status with the US FAA (United States Federal Aviation Authority) and get a satisfactory rating with the ICAO until the leadership of the CAAP, especially the director-general, Ruben Ciron, is replaced,” he said.
In an electronic bulletin last Dec. 18, the ICAO listed the countries with SSC findings as Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Congo, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Philippines, Rwanda, and Zambia.
“The safety oversight audit of the Philippines under the comprehensive systems approach revealed a Significant Safety Concern which remains unresolved by the State,” the ICAO said.
The SSC finding for the Philippines is a double whammy for the country’s local civil aviation industry after the US FAA downgrade of the country from a Category I to a Category II rating due to deficiencies in its civil aviation systems in December 2007.
The US FAA downgrade had caused the Arroyo government to rush passage of Republic Act 9497 which created the CAAP.
Lucero said Ciron, as CAAP director-general, had mainly attended to the hiring of his fellow retired military officers to vital and highly technical positions at the CAAP even without having civil aviation experience and expertise.
“We blame Mr. Ciron and his hiring binge of his fellow retired military generals and colonels and his fellow comrades in the Reform the Armed Forces of the Philippines Movement at the expense of organic ATO personnel who have civil aviation experience and expertise,” he said.
It will be recalled that the CAAP-EU has questioned Ciron’s appointment of retired military officers with no civil aviation management expertise in the CAAP since its creation in late 2008.
The group stressed under RA 9497, the CAAP was supposed to absorb the regular employees of the Air Transportation Office to retain the experienced air traffic controllers and other crucial technical employees of the agency.
Another reason for the creation of the CAAP was to enable it to retain its more than P2 billion income raised from the collection of landing and navigation fees to raise salaries of employees such as air traffic controllers, he added.
Sought for comment, Ciron downplayed the ICAO issuance of the SSC on the Philippines.
“We are addressing that already,” he said.
Ciron said that the reason for the SSC rating by the ICAO was the finding of ICAO inspectors that CAAP lacked technical personnel.
Sources from CAAP say that the ICAO has generated around 100 audit findings/items during their Safety Oversight last November 2009, wherein all of them are serious findings! Hmmm... I'm quite surprise that ICAO only found 100 findings!
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CAAP warned on issuing invalid licenses to pilots
Philstar.com - Saturday, January 23
MANILA, Philippines - The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is issuing invalid licenses for pilots and aircraft mechanics, as well as certificates of registration and air worthiness for aircraft as a result of the appointment of unqualified officers into key technical positions.
Cesar Lucero, vice president of the CAAP Employees Union, warned that the issuance of the invalid licenses and certificates by the CAAP could pose serious problems to aviation firms in times of air mishaps especially when it comes to claiming insurance. “Insurance companies could refuse to honor claims by questioning the licenses and certificates of concerned pilots and airlines,” Lucero told The Star.
Lucero said that the Flight Standards and Inspectorate Service (FSIS), the main regulatory arm of CAAP, was in effect issuing invalid licenses and certificates due to ultra vires acts and illegal appointments of consultants and co-terminus employees into highly-technical positions, who have recently signed the licenses and certificates issued by the agency. He said that under RA 9497, otherwise known as the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008, which created CAAP, the power to issue airman licenses and aviation related certificates exclusively belongs to the Director Generals alone.
Since 2008, the CAAP-EU has observed that the FSIS director appointed by CAAP director-general Ruben Ciron, Eduardo Batac, have been issuing and signing licenses and certificates in direct violation of RA 9497. “The signing of the pilot and aircraft mechanic licenses as well as certificates of registration and air worthiness could not be delegated by Ciron to Batac,” Lucero said.
Illegal
“The acts of the FSIS are what can be called ultra vires and illegal, in effect rendering their issued licenses and certificates null and void,” Lucero said.
Ciron, for his part, denied the allegations of the CAAP-EU. “There is no question on the validity of the licenses and the certificates,” Ciron told The Star in an interview yesterday at the ground breaking rites of the P2.5 billion Caticlan airport upgrade project at the Caticlan airport. Ciron said that Batac, as FSIS director, merely endor-ses the licenses for him to sign for his approval. Ciron said that Batac also had the qualification for the FSIS top position. “I’m the one who signs the licenses,”Ciron said.
Batac, a retired officer of the Philippine Air Force like Ciron, it was learned, was one of the head executive assistants hired by Ciron into the CAAP, with the post being a “co-terminus” appointment which means that the appointment expires upon the end of the appointing official’s tenure.
Batac’s deputy, Romeo Alamillo, also a retired military general, was hired into the CAAP by Ciron as a consultant.
Lucero stressed that both Batac and Alamillo have no civil aviation management experience or expertise.
The CAAP-EU, Lucero said, noted that under existing laws and regulations, both Batac and Alamillo are prohibited to hold positions exercising control and supervision over regular employees.
It will be recalled that the CAAP-EU is questioning the appointment by Ciron of retired military officers with no civil aviation management expertise into the CAAP since its creation in late 2008. - By Rainier Allan Ronda (Philstar News Service, Philippine News for the Filipino Global Community)
Philstar.com - Saturday, January 23
MANILA, Philippines - The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is issuing invalid licenses for pilots and aircraft mechanics, as well as certificates of registration and air worthiness for aircraft as a result of the appointment of unqualified officers into key technical positions.
Cesar Lucero, vice president of the CAAP Employees Union, warned that the issuance of the invalid licenses and certificates by the CAAP could pose serious problems to aviation firms in times of air mishaps especially when it comes to claiming insurance. “Insurance companies could refuse to honor claims by questioning the licenses and certificates of concerned pilots and airlines,” Lucero told The Star.
Lucero said that the Flight Standards and Inspectorate Service (FSIS), the main regulatory arm of CAAP, was in effect issuing invalid licenses and certificates due to ultra vires acts and illegal appointments of consultants and co-terminus employees into highly-technical positions, who have recently signed the licenses and certificates issued by the agency. He said that under RA 9497, otherwise known as the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008, which created CAAP, the power to issue airman licenses and aviation related certificates exclusively belongs to the Director Generals alone.
Since 2008, the CAAP-EU has observed that the FSIS director appointed by CAAP director-general Ruben Ciron, Eduardo Batac, have been issuing and signing licenses and certificates in direct violation of RA 9497. “The signing of the pilot and aircraft mechanic licenses as well as certificates of registration and air worthiness could not be delegated by Ciron to Batac,” Lucero said.
Illegal
“The acts of the FSIS are what can be called ultra vires and illegal, in effect rendering their issued licenses and certificates null and void,” Lucero said.
Ciron, for his part, denied the allegations of the CAAP-EU. “There is no question on the validity of the licenses and the certificates,” Ciron told The Star in an interview yesterday at the ground breaking rites of the P2.5 billion Caticlan airport upgrade project at the Caticlan airport. Ciron said that Batac, as FSIS director, merely endor-ses the licenses for him to sign for his approval. Ciron said that Batac also had the qualification for the FSIS top position. “I’m the one who signs the licenses,”Ciron said.
Batac, a retired officer of the Philippine Air Force like Ciron, it was learned, was one of the head executive assistants hired by Ciron into the CAAP, with the post being a “co-terminus” appointment which means that the appointment expires upon the end of the appointing official’s tenure.
Batac’s deputy, Romeo Alamillo, also a retired military general, was hired into the CAAP by Ciron as a consultant.
Lucero stressed that both Batac and Alamillo have no civil aviation management experience or expertise.
The CAAP-EU, Lucero said, noted that under existing laws and regulations, both Batac and Alamillo are prohibited to hold positions exercising control and supervision over regular employees.
It will be recalled that the CAAP-EU is questioning the appointment by Ciron of retired military officers with no civil aviation management expertise into the CAAP since its creation in late 2008. - By Rainier Allan Ronda (Philstar News Service, Philippine News for the Filipino Global Community)
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kalampag sa konsensya
win faa
your posting are very relevant and all personnel in the civil aviation industry must be fed this information continously to keep them aware of what is and what is not happening at the CAAP. let's hope that people who can influence the situation will read our postings and will be guided accordingly.
keep them coming, kabayan!
your posting are very relevant and all personnel in the civil aviation industry must be fed this information continously to keep them aware of what is and what is not happening at the CAAP. let's hope that people who can influence the situation will read our postings and will be guided accordingly.
keep them coming, kabayan!
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invalid license..
that's true..
last year, a group of aircraft mechanics from etihad was terminated because of this issue..
they hold the original license
but when the company verified their license..
they discovered it was invalid.
because of the license no#
last year, a group of aircraft mechanics from etihad was terminated because of this issue..
they hold the original license
but when the company verified their license..
they discovered it was invalid.
because of the license no#
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back to the future?
please let us remember the original "flunking" happened before RC's time. RC was put in place to fix the years of mismanagement. you may have misgivings about RC's effectiveness and (in)competence as a leader, but it is patently ridiculous for some people within CAAP to act as if it was all RC's fault. let's keep a good perspective here, gentlemen.
having said that, however, 100 serious findings is certainly mind-boggling. what have all the ICAO "consultants" been doing all these times???
having said that, however, 100 serious findings is certainly mind-boggling. what have all the ICAO "consultants" been doing all these times???
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ICAO consultants
chairwrecker, you hit a nerve there. these ICAO people had been with us for so many years already. their fat salaries and allowances are paid for by us. somehow they should answer also to the audit of ICAO HQ.
on the other hand, is RC receptive to recommendations from these ICAO
consultants? does he understand them? does he have an adequate understanding of the implications of his job?
on the other hand, is RC receptive to recommendations from these ICAO
consultants? does he understand them? does he have an adequate understanding of the implications of his job?
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retrogression
flew to ozamiz and butuan recently. didn't have papi lights there. i also remember shooting the ils at mactan and manila not so long ago. now we only have vor/dme approaches. does RC even know what these things are and how they tell on the safety of our flights.
these are basic safety reqmts of airports. CAAP should be minding these things.
these are basic safety reqmts of airports. CAAP should be minding these things.
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Government should help PAL
Government should help PAL
TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS By Babe Romualdez (The Philippine Star) Updated February 02, 2010 12:00 AM
Whatever they say about taipan Lucio Tan, no one can argue that he has been relentless in his efforts to keep Asia’s oldest airline and the country’s flag carrier, PAL, a source of national pride, keeping it afloat. The Asian financial crisis in 1997 definitely did not help and almost brought PAL down to its knees.
The gradual turnaround, plus the operational restructuring that resulted in its successful exit from receivership several years ago, encouraged PAL to take on a more ambitious expansion and re-fleeting program in 2006 as it inked a deal with Boeing for the delivery of six B777-300ER aircraft to be completed by 2011. PAL was hoping to increase its flights to the US and expand its services to several destinations like San Diego, Chicago, New York as well as Saipan.
Unfortunately, all these plans and hopes were dashed when the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in 2007 downgraded its rating for the Philippines from Category 1 to Category 2, saying the Philippines was an unsafe port of origin as it cited the government’s failure to comply with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in providing safety oversight of its air carrier operators.
This downgrade adversely affected PAL because the carrier could not tap new destinations and expand its US market since it was not allowed to increase its flights to the US and US territories. PAL could not also use the new Boeing 777-300ERs to existing US destinations. These long-range aircraft were bought specifically for long-range markets like the United States, and it’s rather ironic that while PAL is contributing to the US economy by buying these American aircraft, it cannot even fly the same to American soil.
After all, it’s the government’s aviation system which failed in the reviews/assessments conducted by the FAA – not PAL – so why can’t an airline which has an impressive safety record bring in American-made aircraft to their place of origin?
In any case, the government reacted to the downgrade by closing down the Air Transportation Office and rushing the creation of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines or CAAP in 2008 to address the findings of the FAA and upgrade the status of the Philippines to Category 1. If I remember correctly, GMA even gave them a 90-day deadline. But aside from the name change, nothing much has been done by the CAAP to rectify the situation.
And as if the FAA downgrade was not enough, here comes another blow with the ICAO’s recent inclusion of the Philippines among several countries with “Significant Safety Concern” or SSC rating such as Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Congo, Djibouti, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia.
Simply put, ICAO is saying that the Philippines does not have safe civil aviation systems, perhaps because the people who are supposed to oversee air safety concerns are busy quarreling with each other. CAAP director general Ruben Ciron has been at odds with an official of the employee’s union who is blaming the former for the country’s failure to regain Category 1 status with the FAA.
Cesar Lucero, the union official, has accused Ciron of being more concerned with hiring fellow retired military officials to highly technical positions who do not have the necessary expertise to efficiently run the agency. Ciron in turn tried to downplay the ICAO’s SSC issuance, even pointing out that the problems plaguing CAAP have been in existence even before his term and were mainly due to corruption and mismanagement in the former ATO administrations which Lucero was part of.
In the first place, the Philippines will not be able to upgrade its rating if these people will not stop their wrangling. Perhaps they should listen to a suggestion for CAAP to consult with the pilots of PAL who have the training, the discipline as well as the expertise and experience regarding safety and other issues. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that as long as the downgrade is not addressed, tourism, transport, cargo and other sectors will continue to be affected.
PAL president Jimmy Bautista has been quietly and patiently pushing for government to get the Category 2 rating lifted. Jimmy, known for being an unassuming and low-key guy, has worked so hard and done great in the successful turnaround of PAL, and it would really be disastrous to see all his efforts gone to waste just because government can’t get its act together.
No one will argue that the airline industry has been going through tough times partly due to the global financial crisis, and just how gloomy things have been can be seen in the recent bankruptcy of JAL, Asia’s biggest carrier. Fortunately, the government of Japan is stepping in to bail out its flag carrier by way of a loan.
Obviously, no one would like to see this country’s flag carrier go the way of JAL. Which is why government should help PAL by making sure that the agencies tasked to oversee the country’s civil aviation systems are doing their jobs properly, instead of engaging in protracted turf wars.
TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS By Babe Romualdez (The Philippine Star) Updated February 02, 2010 12:00 AM
Whatever they say about taipan Lucio Tan, no one can argue that he has been relentless in his efforts to keep Asia’s oldest airline and the country’s flag carrier, PAL, a source of national pride, keeping it afloat. The Asian financial crisis in 1997 definitely did not help and almost brought PAL down to its knees.
The gradual turnaround, plus the operational restructuring that resulted in its successful exit from receivership several years ago, encouraged PAL to take on a more ambitious expansion and re-fleeting program in 2006 as it inked a deal with Boeing for the delivery of six B777-300ER aircraft to be completed by 2011. PAL was hoping to increase its flights to the US and expand its services to several destinations like San Diego, Chicago, New York as well as Saipan.
Unfortunately, all these plans and hopes were dashed when the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in 2007 downgraded its rating for the Philippines from Category 1 to Category 2, saying the Philippines was an unsafe port of origin as it cited the government’s failure to comply with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in providing safety oversight of its air carrier operators.
This downgrade adversely affected PAL because the carrier could not tap new destinations and expand its US market since it was not allowed to increase its flights to the US and US territories. PAL could not also use the new Boeing 777-300ERs to existing US destinations. These long-range aircraft were bought specifically for long-range markets like the United States, and it’s rather ironic that while PAL is contributing to the US economy by buying these American aircraft, it cannot even fly the same to American soil.
After all, it’s the government’s aviation system which failed in the reviews/assessments conducted by the FAA – not PAL – so why can’t an airline which has an impressive safety record bring in American-made aircraft to their place of origin?
In any case, the government reacted to the downgrade by closing down the Air Transportation Office and rushing the creation of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines or CAAP in 2008 to address the findings of the FAA and upgrade the status of the Philippines to Category 1. If I remember correctly, GMA even gave them a 90-day deadline. But aside from the name change, nothing much has been done by the CAAP to rectify the situation.
And as if the FAA downgrade was not enough, here comes another blow with the ICAO’s recent inclusion of the Philippines among several countries with “Significant Safety Concern” or SSC rating such as Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Congo, Djibouti, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia.
Simply put, ICAO is saying that the Philippines does not have safe civil aviation systems, perhaps because the people who are supposed to oversee air safety concerns are busy quarreling with each other. CAAP director general Ruben Ciron has been at odds with an official of the employee’s union who is blaming the former for the country’s failure to regain Category 1 status with the FAA.
Cesar Lucero, the union official, has accused Ciron of being more concerned with hiring fellow retired military officials to highly technical positions who do not have the necessary expertise to efficiently run the agency. Ciron in turn tried to downplay the ICAO’s SSC issuance, even pointing out that the problems plaguing CAAP have been in existence even before his term and were mainly due to corruption and mismanagement in the former ATO administrations which Lucero was part of.
In the first place, the Philippines will not be able to upgrade its rating if these people will not stop their wrangling. Perhaps they should listen to a suggestion for CAAP to consult with the pilots of PAL who have the training, the discipline as well as the expertise and experience regarding safety and other issues. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that as long as the downgrade is not addressed, tourism, transport, cargo and other sectors will continue to be affected.
PAL president Jimmy Bautista has been quietly and patiently pushing for government to get the Category 2 rating lifted. Jimmy, known for being an unassuming and low-key guy, has worked so hard and done great in the successful turnaround of PAL, and it would really be disastrous to see all his efforts gone to waste just because government can’t get its act together.
No one will argue that the airline industry has been going through tough times partly due to the global financial crisis, and just how gloomy things have been can be seen in the recent bankruptcy of JAL, Asia’s biggest carrier. Fortunately, the government of Japan is stepping in to bail out its flag carrier by way of a loan.
Obviously, no one would like to see this country’s flag carrier go the way of JAL. Which is why government should help PAL by making sure that the agencies tasked to oversee the country’s civil aviation systems are doing their jobs properly, instead of engaging in protracted turf wars.
A valid point indeed
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Aero International Airways
Has any one heard of Aero International Airways? Heard their base is in Zamboanga.Can any one provide some information regarding this airline and their fleet etc.
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CAAP "turf war"
Good day to all fellow aviators!
This is my first post, however, ive been surfing this site for quite sometime.
Factually, there is no "turf war" inside CAAP but a legal conflict between the organics and the consultants which if not resolved the soonest will dive the Philippine aviation aground.
It has already been brought to the open especially in the aviaiton world that "consultants" foreign or local are lording over the CAAP with their impractical and out of this world programs and policies.
Under existing laws and regulations, consultants are PROHIBITED to exercise supervision and control over regular and permanent employees. However, this is blatantly violated in the case of CAAP.
Consultants were illegally appointed to key and top positions by RC to the vehement opposition of the regular and organic employees. What compounds this issue is the arrogance and incompetence of these consultants. They came professing and vowing to make needed changes in CAAP. True enough, they changed the situation of CAAP from worse to WORST!
Worst, foreign ICAO consultants are also calling the shots in CAAP! Not only a violation of the Civil Service laws but an affront to the SOVEREIGNTY of our beloved motherland!!! All because RC allowed it!
RC and his consultants will never achieve their goal for the CAAP how noble it may be (kung ganun nga) because they stand on the wrong side of the law.
Fellow aviatiors, lets not make the issue inside CAAP complicated. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT RC AND HIS CONSULTANTS DO NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
No "turf war", just a wrong interpretation and implementation of the law. That simple.
This is my first post, however, ive been surfing this site for quite sometime.
Factually, there is no "turf war" inside CAAP but a legal conflict between the organics and the consultants which if not resolved the soonest will dive the Philippine aviation aground.
It has already been brought to the open especially in the aviaiton world that "consultants" foreign or local are lording over the CAAP with their impractical and out of this world programs and policies.
Under existing laws and regulations, consultants are PROHIBITED to exercise supervision and control over regular and permanent employees. However, this is blatantly violated in the case of CAAP.
Consultants were illegally appointed to key and top positions by RC to the vehement opposition of the regular and organic employees. What compounds this issue is the arrogance and incompetence of these consultants. They came professing and vowing to make needed changes in CAAP. True enough, they changed the situation of CAAP from worse to WORST!
Worst, foreign ICAO consultants are also calling the shots in CAAP! Not only a violation of the Civil Service laws but an affront to the SOVEREIGNTY of our beloved motherland!!! All because RC allowed it!
RC and his consultants will never achieve their goal for the CAAP how noble it may be (kung ganun nga) because they stand on the wrong side of the law.
Fellow aviatiors, lets not make the issue inside CAAP complicated. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT RC AND HIS CONSULTANTS DO NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
No "turf war", just a wrong interpretation and implementation of the law. That simple.
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Turf wars and failure in the implementation of the law
Whatever analyses we make on the situation at CAAP, the aviation sector need the agency to establish order and safety in our skies. The air traffic congestion at the Manila airport had resulted to numerous TCAS RAs and had been reported by the pilots involved. What is the CAAP doing about these events/incidents? Do they really know what to do about things like these? Do they still conduct flight checks to calibrate the precision/accuracy/quality of our navaids like the VORs, PAPI/VASI, ILSs, DMEs?
There is indeed a turf war waging. And the loser is . .
There seems also a failure in the implementation of the law. ..or misinterpretation of the law. Now what to do . .
There is indeed a turf war waging. And the loser is . .
There seems also a failure in the implementation of the law. ..or misinterpretation of the law. Now what to do . .
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I am just wondering...
Are we oblivious to the fact that government employees are what they are. Now I am not gonna make general statements...but if anyone has been to CAAP and has checked out who the regular employee Check Airmen are, y'all would agree that they are idiots. They do their jobs because they have to in order to get paid...but what are their jobs...do they know what they are doing? No they don't! They love going on work trips (even if they have no clue what they are on a trip for) and collecting dollars, or even performing checkrides "under the mango tree". That is why you need the consultants.
CAAP employees want Ciron out? To be replaced by who? With one of their own? Now there is a Category 3 (if there was such a thing) waiting to happen.
Why put the blame on him.
Not for nothing, but I think we should stop sugar coating and giving these CAAP employees credit coz it definitely isn't due. Stick it to them where it hurts. They should replace all personnel of the Aviation Safety Division (doubt if the law will allow that)....which precisely why they are so lax with their jobs...they are protected by the law...our country definitely screwed up somewhere!
Just my two cents.
Are we oblivious to the fact that government employees are what they are. Now I am not gonna make general statements...but if anyone has been to CAAP and has checked out who the regular employee Check Airmen are, y'all would agree that they are idiots. They do their jobs because they have to in order to get paid...but what are their jobs...do they know what they are doing? No they don't! They love going on work trips (even if they have no clue what they are on a trip for) and collecting dollars, or even performing checkrides "under the mango tree". That is why you need the consultants.
CAAP employees want Ciron out? To be replaced by who? With one of their own? Now there is a Category 3 (if there was such a thing) waiting to happen.
Why put the blame on him.
Not for nothing, but I think we should stop sugar coating and giving these CAAP employees credit coz it definitely isn't due. Stick it to them where it hurts. They should replace all personnel of the Aviation Safety Division (doubt if the law will allow that)....which precisely why they are so lax with their jobs...they are protected by the law...our country definitely screwed up somewhere!
Just my two cents.