The power upgrade and corrective maintenance activity at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) on May 3 and 17, 2023 were executed and successfully completed without causing any inconvenience to the riding public.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesman Eric Apolonio said that on May 3, the ATMC corrective maintenance was carried out between 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. , focusing on the repair of the Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR).
Subsequently, on May 17, during the same time frame, the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) was replaced, and an upgrade of the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) A/B power supply was executed. These critical measures were undertaken to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted operation of the Communications, Navigations, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system, responsible for managing and overseeing air traffic activities within the Philippine Flight Information Region (FIR), he added.
“With the goal to address the lack of power system redundancy and robustness that contributed to the technical glitch last 01 January 2023, the automatic voltage regulator (AVR) was made operational again and 2 New UPS were installed,” Air Navigation Service (ANS) Chief Engr. Alex Balde explained.
Engr. Balde further shared that as part of the upgrade, and in order to ensure high redundancy and prevent interruption in the operation of the CNS/ATM center, several modifications were made in the electrical line system downstream configurations. Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS) were put in place to ensure that short interruptions in the CNS/ATM equipment are avoided.
During the maintenance period, the CAAP took proactive measures to minimize flight disruptions and keep the public informed. In previous advisories, the CAAP had already communicated its expectations of minimal flight disruptions during the activity. Early coordination with stakeholders including air carriers, airport operators such as the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), and GMR–Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), ensured that relevant parties were well-prepared.
The GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) reported no flights affected at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). Similarly, the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corporation (LIPAD Corporation), operator of Clark International Airport, stated that only four (4) regional flights were affected. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific reported that all their scheduled flights were able to depart and arrive as planned during the maintenance period. While AirAsia Philippines also provided information on flight adjustments, with 6 flights retimed on May 16 and 2 flights retimed on May 17.
The ATMC corrective maintenance activities were completed successfully and efficiently on both dates, as air traffic controllers (ATCs) reported no flight disruptions during the operations. The Communications Navigation Surveillance Systems (CNSS) and Air Navigation Service (ANS) personnel confirmed the prompt resumption of normal operations at the ATMC following the completion of the activities. Continuous monitoring and fine-tuning of the CNSS and ANS are being conducted to ensure the unimpeded operations of airports across the country.
Apolonio said CAAP extends its appreciation to all stakeholders for their understanding, cooperation, and support throughout the ATMC power upgrade process and it also continuously recognizes the importance of seamless air traffic management, and it remains committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and efficiency.
Meanwhile, according to Air Traffic Service (ATS) Chief Marlene Singson, the completion of the corrective maintenance replacing the old UPS with two brand new UPS, the new AVR and the upgraded power system at the Air Traffic Management Center shall guarantee a continuous safe air traffic management within the Philippine Flight Information Region (FIR). According to Singson, flight disruptions caused by equipment malfunction is now a thing of the past, and that the Philippines now has a robust system to ensure safety and convenience of the flying public.
