The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) wishes to remind the public of the Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) corrective maintenance activity scheduled on May 17, 2023, from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM. Despite the temporary airspace closure, the CAAP expects only a minimal number of affected flights in two international gateways and several CAAP-operated airports.
According to the GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), no flights will be affected at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), while for Clark International Airport, four (4) regional flights will be affected as per source from the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corporation (LIPAD Corporation), operator of Clark International Airport.
In addition, AirAsia Philippines announced that 12 flights have been retimed on May 16 and 2 flights on May 17, while 6 domestic flights are cancelled on May 17.
In an interview, Deputy Director General for Operations Captain Edgardo G. Diaz stated that “The temporary airspace closure is due to the imperative corrective maintenance activity on the ATMC, necessary to replace the defective Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), and reconfigure the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) A/B power supply. This will ensure that the CNS/ATM system will continue to provide safe and efficient air traffic control operations.”
CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said the agency has already coordinated with and advised concerned stakeholders such as air carriers and airport operators, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), and GMR–Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) in advance regarding the intended corrective maintenance activity. In addition, corresponding Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) were duly promulgated to inform all stakeholders.
The ATMC power supply upgrade will involve the installation of a bypass panel to provide seamless ATM operations and the reconfiguration of the existing power distribution panel to segregate ATM system A (Voice) and ATM system B (Data). This will result in the two UPS serving as each other’s independent backup in case one power supply encounters a problem.
The ATMC houses the Communications, Navigations, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system, which manages air traffic within the Philippine Flight Information Region (FIR).
