Goding Ramos Airport Lacks
Navigational Safety Equipment
Navigational Safety Equipment
By Ernesto T. Solidum
During last Lenten season, some 35,000 local and foreign tourists flocked to Boracay to savor the world renowned beach resort, its amenities and warmth of its people. By land and sea, they came in droves bringing whole families, business partners and friends seemingly drawn to a theme park. In 2006, tourist arrivals posted 556,000 according to DOT.
Of course the nearest aerial route to the place from any part of the archipelago is the Goding Ramos Airport, Caticlan, Malay, Aklan. From a modest 15 flights per day in the 1980’s, now the small airport has more than doubled its flights making it the busiest airport in the whole island of Panay. On its hold are three airline companies namely: Cebu Pacific, Sea Air and Asian Spirit with connecting flights from Manila to Caticlan and Caticlan to Cebu by offering cheaper plane fares on its return trip to Manila or Cebu. This is providing alternative transport for some who desire safe, fast and comfortable travel.
Presently, only light aircrafts with minimum seating capacity of 36 passengers are served. This is due to the short runway of 950 meters. Generally, single engine planes have no trouble when landing or taking off but not with bigger planes. Potential risk of disaster is always present especially with gusty winds and inclement weather. Pilot must maneuver his plane to a screeching halt at the end of the runway and forthwith bring it to the tarmac area. In the process, planes’ tires are prune to burst like one that happened some years back. Fortunately, no one was hurt in that incident. Formidable problem remains however, on the air and noise pollution that the airport brings to the bustling community and its environment. Supersonic barrage of noise every 15 minutes and attendant air pollution can be stressful to everyone living within the vicinity of the airport. A stone’s throw from the airport terminal is the Aklan Baptist Hospital and Caticlan Elementary School.
Latest aircraft model ATR72-500 owned by Cebu Pacific and scheduled to operate by February this year has a seating capacity of 80 passengers and requires a runway of at least one (1) km. How can a plane safely land in a 0.95 km runway is everyone’s guess. Bigger capacity planes are the airlines’ industry answer to high fuel, maintenance cost, and stiff competition.
Definitely, Goding Ramos Airport considering its strategic location and resources is losing much of its airport revenue potential. A thorough overhaul of its whole facility by ATO is long overdue. Aside from outdated physical infrastructure, personnel staff must be professionally prepared to handle an ever increasing volume of passengers and aircraft. This is fueled in part by the latest construction boom of high rise hotels like Alta Vista, Grand Vista and Shangrila Hotel in Boracay Island.
FAA Downgrades NAIA
In a related development, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) downgraded the Philippines’ Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Category 1 to 2 rating. This simply means that the Air Transportation Office (ATO) failed to meet international standard of safety in 6 of 7 FAA focus areas. (Manila Bulletin Jan. 16, ’08). These are specific aviation regulation, qualified technical personnel, technical guidance, certification and licensing, continuous oversight functions and resolution of safety issues.
The Goding Ramos airport should be given priority attention by the government since it is the major gateway of both foreign and local tourists to Boracay. In terms of passenger booking flights, Kalibo Airport pales in comparison to Goding Ramos Airport despite official wide publicity endorsement to patronize the former. The reason is simple enough: tourists dislike unnecessary delays and strenuous trips.Improvement of Goding Ramos airport necessarily must supersede any plan to construct an international airport at Carabao Island (Hambil) or San Jose, Romblon. Existing facilities must be upgraded in order to meet optimum international standard. This include among others: extension and expansion of runway, installation of runway lights, modern aircraft navigation and communication equipment and hiring of competent technical personnel. Aklan’s tourism industry is bound to suffer from this downgraded FAA ratings unless ATO, DOT, and LGU act with firm resolve. Navigational safety, whether by sea or air, is definitely everyone’s concern and should be accorded due respect regardless of obstacles and lapses in judgment by concerned officials. /MP
The Goding Ramos airport should be given priority attention by the government since it is the major gateway of both foreign and local tourists to Boracay. In terms of passenger booking flights, Kalibo Airport pales in comparison to Goding Ramos Airport despite official wide publicity endorsement to patronize the former. The reason is simple enough: tourists dislike unnecessary delays and strenuous trips.Improvement of Goding Ramos airport necessarily must supersede any plan to construct an international airport at Carabao Island (Hambil) or San Jose, Romblon. Existing facilities must be upgraded in order to meet optimum international standard. This include among others: extension and expansion of runway, installation of runway lights, modern aircraft navigation and communication equipment and hiring of competent technical personnel. Aklan’s tourism industry is bound to suffer from this downgraded FAA ratings unless ATO, DOT, and LGU act with firm resolve. Navigational safety, whether by sea or air, is definitely everyone’s concern and should be accorded due respect regardless of obstacles and lapses in judgment by concerned officials. /MP
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