MANILA — The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has pledged to assist the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in upgrading its facilities and enhancing manpower through comprehensive training programs. This collaboration aims to address the increasing needs for air navigation professionals and improve the overall functionality of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
According to Philippine News Agency, the partnership between NNIC and CAAP was solidified during a meeting on Monday where they discussed several critical operational improvements. These enhancements include the updating of taxiways, weather and lighting systems, and air traffic control facilities which are crucial for increasing aircraft movements and ensuring smoother operations at NAIA.
The officials also highlighted the importance of human capital development to meet the growing demand for air navigation and emergency service professionals. NNIC, which officially took over the operations of NAIA on September 14, supports extensive training programs for Air Traffic Service and Air Navigation Service personnel.
The need for such improvements was underscored by past incidents, including a major system glitch on January 1 last year that resulted in the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights, affecting thousands of passengers. Another similar incident occurred last May due to a software issue, impacting over 9,200 passengers. These system glitches are related to the CNS/ATM systems that are essential for accurate aircraft location transmissions during various phases of flight.
Furthermore, NNIC has committed to funding the refurbishment of the Civil Aviation Training Center, which includes purchasing new tower simulators. Both parties have also agreed on the necessity to upgrade the aerodrome rescue and firefighting training facilities and equipment to enhance airport safety and emergency response capabilities.
NNIC’s consortium, which includes major players like San Miguel Corporation and Incheon International Airport Corporation, plans to invest PHP170 billion in a phased strategy to elevate NAIA to international standards. This ambitious plan aims to increase the airport’s passenger capacity from 43 million to 62 million annually and boost air traffic movements from 42 to 48 per hour.