PAF: Can provide CAAP technical support within its current capabilities

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Friday said it can provide technical support to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) but only within its current capabilities and if requested following the air traffic system glitch on New Year’s Day.

The PAF issued the remark after National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos suggested that the military should be allowed to help the CAAP in times of concerning situations.

“As a force provider, the PAF can deliver support to other requesting agencies  under the direction of higher headquarters, and within our current capabilities. If the PAF will be requested or called upon to provide personnel or technical support within what we are currently capable of, then by all means we will provide our services,” PAF spokesperson Colonel Ma. Consuelo Castillo told GMA News Online.

Castillo said that it has a written agreement with the CAAP which "generally prescribes joint use of equipment and resources and mutual assistance in the performance of their missions."

"In recent years, coordination has been ongoing between representatives of the two parties for the enhancement of their MOA (memorandum of agreement) to include specific provisions that will allow enhanced integration of capabilities and sharing of critical data for  a one sky picture for a better air defense posture," Castillo said.

The Air Force official said coordination is continuous for future integration. She added the PAF’s  current radars and systems is not compatible with the data used by CAAP for air traffic management.

"Thus, it (PAF) could not provide back-up services in case the same incident happens," she said.

"Perhaps this incident is  an impetus that will channel the needed government support for the expeditious acquisition of needed technologies for CAAP-PAF systems upgrade and integration that will help effectively address future events of the same nature," she added.

During the Senate hearing Thursday on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport fiasco, Carlos said she asked former Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. why the military cannot help on issues concerning civil aviation.

The Senate public services committee on Thursday launched an investigation into the fiasco that happened in the country's main gateway on January 1.

At least 282 flights were canceled, diverted, or delayed on New Year's Day as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) recorded a technical issue at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) at 9:50 a.m. Some 56,000 passengers were affected at the NAIA. —LDF/KG, GMA Integrated News