NAIA to replace 18-year-old navigational guidance system

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport is replacing its 18-year-old navigational guidance system, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said Sunday.

 

CAAP said it has approved the replacement of NAIA's Doppler VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range and Distance Measuring Equipment (DVOR/DME), a navigational aid that helps pilots locate the runway and land in low visibility.

 

The project, which also includes the removal of the current DVOR/DME, the installation of new power and fiber-optic cables, and the rehabilitation of "existing Doppler counterpoise and shelter system" should be finished by August, CAAP said.

The project was awarded to a joint venture of Indra Australia Pty. Ltd. and Philcox Philippines Inc. through competitive bidding

According to Bids and Awards Committee chairman Rodante Joya, the winning bid of P39.8 million is P13.9 million lower than the bid ceiling set for the project.

The DVOR/DME, installed in 1996, malfunctioned in June 2010, forcing air traffic controllers to divert flights to Clark International Airport in Pampanga. Thousands of passengers were affected by the outage. — JDS, GMA News