The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Thursday, (May 11, 2023) issued notices to airmen (NOTAMs) in anticipation of a rocket launch of China.
In a statement, CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said the area of concern includes the drop zones identified in coordination with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).
Apolonio said that due to China’s Long March 7 rocket launch on Wednesday, May 10 at 9:22 PM Philippine time, debris drop zones have been verified through a notice from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
Consequently, the CAAP issued NOTAMs B1624/23 effective May 10 from 9:14 PM to 9:52 PM, B1626/23 effective May 10 from 9:15 PM to 9:56 PM, and B1628/23 effective May 10 from 9:15 PM to 10:02 PM for aerospace flight activities, advising the closure of several area navigation (RNAV) routes in preparation for possible debris drops from the rocket launch.
Though the debris from the rocket launch will unlikely fall on inhabited land, they may still pose danger to aircraft and seacraft, Apolonio said.
The NOTAMs’ area of concern include the drop zones identified in coordination with PhilSA which are approximately 65 to 79 kilometers from Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), Apolonio added.
