AIR TRAFFIC OBSTRUCTION. Engr. Francisco Alconera of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines explains to local government officials and representatives of business establishments near the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) about the Obstruction Limitation Surface policy during an awareness seminar on Monday (Nov. 18, 2019). Alconera reminded owners of establishments to ensure their buildings' height is within the limit to prevent obstruction to air traffic. (PNA photo by Fe Marie Dumaboc)
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Monday reminded owners of establishments in this resort island city to be mindful of height restrictions for structures built within the radius of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) even as it warned them of air traffic obstruction.
During an awareness and orientation seminar on the airports' obstruction limitation surfaces (OLS) policy held at the MCIA on Monday afternoon, Francisco Alconera, chief of the survey, aerodrome development and management service of CAAP, said local government units (LGUs) should not approve building permit applications for high-rise buildings that will go beyond the 51-meter height limitations within the 24-kilometer radius from the MCIA.
Alconera said height restrictions under the OLS policy will guarantee obstacle clearance for aircrafts performing approach, departure, and circling procedures within the airport’s 24-kilometer radius.
In a 2017 survey, CAAP found several establishments on Mactan Island that violated the height limit, he said.
He mentioned two big hotels -- Movenpick and Mactan Newtown -- that are located within the four-kilometer radius from the airport but their structures are beyond the required 51-meter height limit.
“Yes, there is obstruction. These establishments are already beyond the standard. But it does not mean that it’s no longer safe. So, the question is, if there are those that violated, what shall we do? That’s the reason why we conducted an aeronautical survey to adjust the height in order to inform the pilots that there are high-rise buildings in the area that he should be careful of upon descending,” Alconera said in Cebuano.
He said pilots will be advised to take extra precaution when their aircraft reach the skies along the Mactan Newtown area and to refrain from flying below 76-meters -- the height of the buildings here -- in order to prevent accidents especially during bad weather.
Using the results of the recent survey, CAAP adjusted the OLS sent to the air operators, Alconera said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency after the seminar.
Along the four-kilometer radius, CAAP adjusted the height limitation from 51 meters to 80 meters, he said.
Present during the seminar were heads and representatives of the Office of the Building Officials of the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu, and Talisay and towns of Cordova, Liloan and Consolacion which are within the 24-kilometer radius from the airport.
Building engineers from MCIA and GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) also attended the activity.
“OLS orientation, one of the things that we have been trying to work on, two years ago we have the orientation, but we have to keep on refreshing, so that lessons we learned back then will not be forgotten,” lawyer Steve Dicdican, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) general manager, said.
Dicdican also said that preserving OLS would ensure safety in airport operations.
“The maintenance of the OLS is very critical. We all know that Cebu is booming, and there are high-rise structures sprouting everywhere. While development is good, we cannot let the development obstruct our aircraft aerospace, because how can our tourists, businessmen come to the city in the island if the airport cannot be landed on,” he added.
Alconera urged establishments not to build high-rise buildings near the runway.
“Our job is to update if there are obstructions. Actually, our mandate is more on to the safety, to notify the pilots or air operator if there are obstructions, and we’ll write letters informing LGU’s about the survey, and remind them to (strictly) implement National Building Code,” Alconera added. (PNA)
