Pride of Angeles City: Clark International Airport rated as one of the safest in the Philippines

The Clark International Airport has been named one of the safest in the country by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for its compliance with the Civil Aviation Regulations Governing Aerodromes and Manual Standards.

The citation was made during the celebration Monday of Civil Aviation Day at the CAAP offices in Paranaque City, which was led by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco.

Clark International Airport Corporation President Alexander Cauguiran received the citation.

Cauguiran said the Aerodrome Certification is vital to the operations of the CRK, which has also passed the international standards set by the International Civil Authority Organization and CAAP.

The Aerodrome Certification covers several procedures: safety management system, aerodrome reporting, access to the movement area, aerodrome emergency plan, rescue and firefighting service, aerodrome inspection, visual aids that include electrical systems, and aerodrome lighting, movement area maintenance, aerodrome works safety, aircraft parking control, ramp safety management, airside vehicle control, wildlife hazard management, airside vehicle control, obstacle control, disabled aircraft removal, handling of hazardous materials, low visibility operations, and protection of radar and navigation aids.

In a related development, the CRK has been included in the Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Air Traffic Management system of the CAAP.

The CNS-ATM will improve the handling and transfer of information, extend surveillance and improve navigational accuracy leading to, among other things, increased airspace capacity.

Cauguiran said “the integration of Clark Airport in the state of the art communications, navigation and surveillance air traffic management system will further enhance the airport’s capability to monitor the flight movements since more domestic and international airlines are expected to operate at Clark as part of the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to utilize the Airport of the North.”

Starting Friday, Philippine Airlines will start flying the Clark-Caticlan route daily, departing from Caticlan at 10 a.m. and from Clark at 11:30 a.m.

PAL will also commence domestic flights to Davao, Busuanga and Cagayan De Oro and international flights to Incheon South Korea from Clark by January 2017.

Cebu Pacific and other domestic and international carriers have also announced increased flights and new routes via Clark.