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Advocates Philippines
CAAP Successfully Completes Power Upgrade And Corrective Maintenance At Philippine Air Traffic Management Center
Pasay City - The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has announced the successful completion of a power upgrade and corrective maintenance activity at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) on May 3 and 17, 2023. These crucial operations were carried out without causing any inconvenience to the riding public.
The ATMC corrective maintenance was conducted on May 3, from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM, with a focus on repairing the Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR). Subsequently, on May 17, during the same time frame, the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) was replaced, and an upgrade of the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) A/B power supply was executed. These measures were undertaken to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted operation of the Communications, Navigations, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system, responsible for managing and overseeing air traffic activities within the Philippine Flight Information Region (FIR).
Engr. Alex Balde, the Air Navigation Service (ANS) Chief, explained that the activities were implemented to address the lack of power system redundancy and robustness that contributed to a technical glitch experienced on January 1, 2023. As part of the upgrade, the AVR was made operational again, and two new UPS were installed. Furthermore, modifications were made in the electrical line system downstream configurations to ensure high redundancy and prevent interruption in the operation of the CNS/ATM center. Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS) were also put in place to avoid short interruptions in the CNS/ATM equipment.
Throughout the maintenance period, the CAAP took proactive measures to minimize flight disruptions and keep the public informed. Prior advisories had been issued to communicate the expectation of minimal flight disruptions during the activity. Early coordination with stakeholders, including air carriers and airport operators such as the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), and GMR–Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), ensured preparedness among relevant parties.
The GMCAC reported that no flights were affected at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), while the LIPAD Corporation, operator of Clark International Airport, stated that only four regional flights were affected. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific confirmed that all their scheduled flights were able to depart and arrive as planned during the maintenance period. AirAsia Philippines provided information on flight adjustments, with six flights retimed on May 16 and two flights retimed on May 17.
Air traffic controllers (ATCs) reported no flight disruptions during the ATMC corrective maintenance activities on both dates. The prompt resumption of normal operations at the ATMC was confirmed by the Communications Navigation Surveillance Systems (CNSS) and Air Navigation Service (ANS) personnel. Continuous monitoring and fine-tuning of the CNSS and ANS are being conducted to ensure unimpeded operations at airports across the country.
Air Traffic Service (ATS) Chief Marlene I. Singson stated that the completion of the corrective maintenance, including the replacement of the old UPS with two brand new units, the new AVR, and the upgraded power system at the Air Traffic Management Center, guarantees continuous safe air traffic management within the Philippine Flight Information Region (FIR). Singson emphasized that flight disruptions caused by equipment malfunctions are now a thing of the past, and the Philippines now possesses a robust system to ensure the safety and convenience of the flying public.
The ATMC corrective maintenance was conducted on May 3, from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM, with a focus on repairing the Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR). Subsequently, on May 17, during the same time frame, the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) was replaced, and an upgrade of the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) A/B power supply was executed. These measures were undertaken to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted operation of the Communications, Navigations, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system, responsible for managing and overseeing air traffic activities within the Philippine Flight Information Region (FIR).
Engr. Alex Balde, the Air Navigation Service (ANS) Chief, explained that the activities were implemented to address the lack of power system redundancy and robustness that contributed to a technical glitch experienced on January 1, 2023. As part of the upgrade, the AVR was made operational again, and two new UPS were installed. Furthermore, modifications were made in the electrical line system downstream configurations to ensure high redundancy and prevent interruption in the operation of the CNS/ATM center. Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS) were also put in place to avoid short interruptions in the CNS/ATM equipment.
Throughout the maintenance period, the CAAP took proactive measures to minimize flight disruptions and keep the public informed. Prior advisories had been issued to communicate the expectation of minimal flight disruptions during the activity. Early coordination with stakeholders, including air carriers and airport operators such as the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), and GMR–Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), ensured preparedness among relevant parties.
The GMCAC reported that no flights were affected at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), while the LIPAD Corporation, operator of Clark International Airport, stated that only four regional flights were affected. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific confirmed that all their scheduled flights were able to depart and arrive as planned during the maintenance period. AirAsia Philippines provided information on flight adjustments, with six flights retimed on May 16 and two flights retimed on May 17.
Air traffic controllers (ATCs) reported no flight disruptions during the ATMC corrective maintenance activities on both dates. The prompt resumption of normal operations at the ATMC was confirmed by the Communications Navigation Surveillance Systems (CNSS) and Air Navigation Service (ANS) personnel. Continuous monitoring and fine-tuning of the CNSS and ANS are being conducted to ensure unimpeded operations at airports across the country.
Air Traffic Service (ATS) Chief Marlene I. Singson stated that the completion of the corrective maintenance, including the replacement of the old UPS with two brand new units, the new AVR, and the upgraded power system at the Air Traffic Management Center, guarantees continuous safe air traffic management within the Philippine Flight Information Region (FIR). Singson emphasized that flight disruptions caused by equipment malfunctions are now a thing of the past, and the Philippines now possesses a robust system to ensure the safety and convenience of the flying public.
May 18, 2023
