NAIA operations normal amid Taal Volcano unrest
NORMAL operations remain at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and there will be no cancellation of flights, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reported Saturday.
The pronouncement was issued by the authority in the wake of the abnormal activities of Taal Volcano and after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the alert status of Taal from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3.
In a text message, NAIA General Manager Eddie Monreal said, “So far wala pang advise ang Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).”
CAAP issued a separate advisory and ordered pilots to avoid passing in the Taal areas.
“Notice to airmen (NOTAM) was issued to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along flight route or a location that could affect the flight,” according to CAAP advisory.
The duration of NOTAM is from March 26, 2022 at 10:29 a.m. until March 27, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. estimate. The height is from surface to 13,000 feet.
Eric Apolonio, CAAP Spokesperson said in a text message, “Wala pa namang flight cancellations from NAIA, sa [NOTAM] pina-iiwas yung mga pilots to [veer] away from Taal Volcano due to eruption that is very dangerous sa aircraft engine.”
Earlier, Phivolcs raised the Alert Level 3 for Taal Volcano, after its main crater “generated a short-lived phreatomagmatic burst,” – with plumes reaching more than a thousand meters.
A phreatomagmatic burst is a result of new magma and water interacting.
