The Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay. Photo courtesy of CAAP
Bicol airports not affected by Bulusan Volcano eruption
THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed that the airports it manages in the Bicol Region encountered no damage in its facilities due to the recent ash emission and phreatic eruption of Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon.
The CAAP operates seven airports in the Bicol Region, namely: Bulan Airport, Sorsogon Airport, Daet Airport, Masbate Airport, Naga Airport, Virac Airport, and Bicol International Airport.
“We remain vigilant and alert for the volcano’s next activities. As of now, our airports have been safe from the wrath of Mt. Bulusan’s eruption. Operations in our airports with commercial flights have remained unhampered as well,” CAAP Area V Manager Cynthia Tumanut said.
CAAP has also updated its Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to reflect the current situation in the vicinity of Mt. Bulusan.
NOTAM B1507/22 was issued announcing that because the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has raised its alert on Mt. Bulusan to level 1, entry to the volcano’s 4 km permanent danger zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited.
Further, flights have been prohibited from operating 10,000 feet from the surface and advised to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from the sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
