COA: Clark Airport’s control tower has obsolete equipment

The government would have to invest heavily in the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Clark International Airport in Pampanga before it becomes a modern and safe destination for diverted flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after state auditors discovered that its control tower building and facilities have obsolete and busted equipment.

The Commission on Audit (COA) found the state of the control tower building and its equipment to be non-compliant with international standards following an onsite inspection completed last January 7.

“The deteriorating condition of the Aerodome Traffic Control Tower puts airport operations at risk caused by facilities which have gone outdated and not conforming with international standards which hinders the attainment of its objective to develop the airport into a premiere international airport of the Philippines,” the COA said in a Value for Money Audit released October 6, a copy of which was submitted to the Board of Directors of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC).

Non-operational elevator

Foremost on the list of defects that COA found in the Clark Airport’s control tower was its non-operational elevator, which was supposed to transport people and freight to and from the 11-story structure.

As a result, air traffic controllers from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) need to use the stairs every day to reach their workplace.

The COA said the lack of an operational elevator has raised gender-sensitive issues, particularly for expectant mothers.

“Moreover, human factors such as faintness may bring constraints to the workforce to climb up the 11-storey tower or much worse, may result to accidents,” the state auditing firm said.

Should an emergency occur, COA said the absence of a working elevator might put airport operations in peril.

“Inevitable circumstances include other emergency cases that necessitate urgent action or response especially relative to the operation of the aerodome and navigational facilities certainly needs the expediency of an elevator,” it said.

Poor visibility

Aside from the non-operational elevator, the auditing team found multiple cracks on the control tower glass windows and poor quality of visibility due to deterioration.

“We also observed that the viewing deck glass was dingy and dull. Also, at the lower part of the window panes, the glass tints have creeping cracks thereby decreasing the transmissivity of the glass which reduced the ability to see very small objects that is necessary to improve surveillance by the aerodome controller,” COA said.

The auditing team also discovered that lighting conditions inside the tower were poor, which in turn affected the personnel’s efficiency in reading and conveying information like hold-short instruction, take-off and landing clearances, as well as frequency changes.

The COA said conditions are particularly difficult at night.

Based on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Rules of the Air, International Standards, the following are among the crucial functions of the control tower personnel:

• issuing information clearances to aircraft to achieve a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of traffic;
• providing information and other support for pilots; and
• managing air traffic between aircraft flying within the designated area of responsibility of the control tower, including aircraft landing and take-off as well as ground vehicles operating in the airport

Fire hazards

Other concerns which the COA noted in its audit were the exposed electrical wiring and components which were deemed to be fire hazards, litter in the tower’s terrace, cracked interior wall paint and the abandoned equipment in vacant rooms.

State auditors said CAAP’s head in the control tower told them that their concerns have been included in monthly reports to the CIAC since 2000 but no action has been taken.

In light of its audit findings, COA urged the CIAC’s president and chief executive officer to prioritize the urgent rehabilitation of the Aerodome Traffic Control Tower building and facility to meet the international standards and requirements of ICAO.

During the exit conference, CAAP vowed to install a working elevator at the control tower and construct an administration office inside the airport. —ALG, GMA News