No Filipino on missing AirAsia flight - CAAP

MANILA - The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed that there were no Filipinos listed on the AirAsia flight that has gone missing on Sunday morning.

In a statement, CAAP also said A320-200 flight QZ8501 did not pass through the Philippines’ flight information region (FIR).

“According to the CAAP operation rescue and coordinating center, the flight path of the said flight is far away from Philippine FIR and no record of such pass thru the Philippine air space today,” the agency said.

The AirAsia plane went missing en route to Singapore from Indonesia. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the flight less than an hour after it left the Juanda international airport.

Air Asia said the pilot of flight QZ8501 had requested "deviation" from the its flight plan because of bad weather.

"The aircraft... was requesting deviation due to enroute weather," the Malaysia-based carrier said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.
"Communication with the aircraft was lost while it was still under the control of the Indonesian Air Traffic Control (ATC)." – with Agence Franc Presse

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Texting on PH flights may soon be allowed

MANILA, Philippines – The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will soon issue a memorandum order allowing the use of mobile gadgets on Philippine flights, CAAP deputy director general Capt. John Andrews said.

Andrews said the new guidelines were penned following a go-signal on the use of smartphones and other gadgets on airplanes from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

He said the new policy was “long overdue.”

“In the past 25 years na lumabas ang mga cellphone, wala pang nababalita na kaso ng cellphone na nag-interfere sa electronic equipment ng eroplano,” Andrews told dzMM on Tuesday.

Passengers are required to turn off electronic devices during takeoff and landing, and will only be allowed for use when the captain gives the go-ahead signal. With the new policy, passengers may use the devices during takeoffs, landings and taxiing.

Andrews, however, noted that only text messaging, gaming and internet surfing will be allowed “for practical purposes.” He said making calls are still prohibited.

“Kasi kung 200 na tao ay sabay-sabay magsasalita medyo magulo at maingay,” he said.

Andrews noted that while text messaging may be handy as the plane begins its descent or during takeoff, passengers may not be able to send messages when the plane reaches a certain altitude because of poor signal.

“Kapag stable na ang eroplano, wala kayong signal na matatanggap kasi mataas tayo eh. Pwede lang ito kapag malapit na sa lupa,” he said.

Andrews said once CAAP’s memorandum order is issued, it has to be published by a major newspaper and will be effective 15 days after publication.

“Makakatulong ito sa mga pasahero at sa mga airline para nalalaman natin ang mga nangyayari sa biyahe ng mga eroplano. It’s for better service all around,” he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

CAAP suspends Zest Air over safety violations

MANILA, Philippines - The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Friday ordered the suspension of air operations of Zest Airways, a joint venture of businessman Alfredo Yao and Philippines' AirAsia, over various safety violations.

In a letter to Zest Air owner Yao dated August 16, CAAP officer-in-charge Capt. John Andrews said it is "alarmed" by Zest Air's series of "serious deviations and infractions" of the rules and standards under the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations.

"It is informed that your Air Operator Certificate is suspended and hereby precluded to engage in air carrier operations," he said.

The suspension will only be lifted once the CAAP is "assured" of the necessary corrective actions and compliance with aviation safety standards.


The CAAP's decision was based on a report conducted by a group of airworthiness inspectors, who were tasked to monitor Zest Air operations last July 31.

 In the August 16 report, the airworthiness inspectors said it found continuing safety violations made by ZestAir and recommended the immediate suspension of its operations.

Among the violations were: Zest Air's lack of qualified accountable manager; failure of the flight crew to check aircraft logs, flight manifest and weather and failure to present the airman license to the CAAP during ramp inspection.

Zest Air was also cited for various "occurrences that affected flight operations", such as a fuel overflow in Kalibo on July 22 and August 9.

Another safety violation was the airline's refueling with passengers on board last August 14.

Zest Air was also cited for excessive flight duty time. The report noted that since January 2012, several pilots have exceeded the 100 hours flight time limit per month due to rise in flight operations and flight crew shortage.

"Zest Air lacks procedures in monitoring the flight time limit of pilots and procedures ... In 2012, 24 pilots have exceeded the flying time limitations," it said.

Zest Air flies to 9 domestic destinations and 5 international routes via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as well as hubs in Kalibo and Cebu.

Last May, Malaysia's AirAsia Berhad through local unit Philippines’ AirAsia Inc. completed a deal with Zest Air.

AirAsia, which controls 40% of Philippines’ AirAsia, acquired an 85% economic interest and 49% voting rights in ZestAir as well as a 100 percent interest in Yao’s Asiawide Airways Inc.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

CAAP inspects Parañaque crash site, to check aircraft and pilot records

Aviation authorities on Sunday returned to the site of a deadly plane crash in a Parañaque City subdivision that killed at least 14 people.

The team from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said it plans to retrieve the plane's engine and check plane and pilot records on Monday.

"Tomorrow [Monday] we will start checking the records of the aircraft and of the pilots. After that, we will schedule a press conference," Capt. Amado Soliman of the CAAP Air Accident Investigation Board said in an interview on dzBB radio.

For his part, Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the fleet of the aircraft that crashed will be grounded automatically while a probe is ongoing.

"Tulad sa bus o barko kung may naaksidente na isang sasakayan sa isang fleet, sinususpendi o iniinspection ang ibang sasakyan," Roxas said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said at least 13 people were confirmed dead as of Sunday morning.

In its Sunday report, it said the Beechcraft Queen Air two-seater (RPC-834) crashed at Doña Soledad Subdivision in Parañaque City Saturday afternoon.

According to the NDRRMC, the crash affected 20 families or 100 people, mostly children; and damaged 20 houses mostly made of light materials and two school buildings.

The NDRRMC estimated the damage at P6 million.

It also identified seven of the fatalities as:

Capt. Timoteo Albo
Capt. Jessie Kim Lustica
Julius Durado (plane passenger)
Roldan Sabidorian
Maribel Nolasco
Margarita Berdera
James Bryan Ranon

Injured were:

Mary Rose Sabidura, 14
Mark Ryan Sabidura, 12
Madrid Rensel Sabidura, 10
Roldan Sabidura Jr., 6
Abrece Emelita, 12
Nolasco Melvin, 8
Bigay Edna, 47
Kevin John Molina, 11
Rodelyn Molina, 5
Ricky Buton, 30

— LBG, GMA News

source:gmanetwork.com