CAAP chief: No air traffic system software upgrade since 2020 despite contractors' advice

The software for the country's communications, navigation, and surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) has not been upgraded for two years despite the advice of the contractors who installed the system, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Manuel Antonio Tamayo admitted Thursday.

The CAAP chief disclosed this during the Senate investigation into the New Year's Day airspace shutdown after Senator Grace Poe asked if there is a software that should be updated regularly.

"There is, ma'am. We are advised of the software upgrade requirements coming from them [Thales and Sumitomo]," Tamayo said.

Asked if CAAP has already conducted the updating, Tamayo responded: "Never. Not for the past two years."

Country representative Harry Nuske of Thales—one of the companies in the joint venture that installed the CNS/ATM—confirmed that they have advised CAAP to upgrade their software.

"That is correct, madam chair. The software we recommend is updated at least yearly to maintain at pace with international standards...The last upgrade was in 2020," Nuske said.

Poe expressed her disappointment and asked Tamayo what kept the agency from updating the software for the CNS/ATM.

"How can you go on like that? Are you just weighing it, Director Tamayo? Since 2020, kailangan ng upgrade niyan, hindi niyo inaa-upgrade? How can you be compatible with other systems?" the chairperson of the Senate committee on public services asked.

Tamayo explained that they had funds for the upgrade but it was a part of the issues that they have been negotiating with the joint venture.

"That's still part of the issues between Thales and DOTr. We have the funds for the upgrade," Tamayo said.

Tamayo was referring to the almost P1 billion claims that Thales and Sumitomo joint venture is seeking from the Department of Transportation due to the delay in the implementation of the project.

At the early part of the hearing, Transportation Undersecretary for Aviations and Airports Roberto Lim said the Thales-Sumitomo joint venture's claims involve a total amount of P986,653,157.81 which was divided into three different types of claims:

• Suspension claims worth P477 million. This is a consequence of the suspension of contract due to a notice of disallowance in 2011 which was eventually lifted in 2013.
• Prolongation claim worth over P387 million. This is the consequence of the delay due to the suspension of the contract and the delay of the implementation of the work instruction by the Department of Transportation.
• Price escalation claim worth over P121 million which is a consequence of the delay of the project contractors

On the other hand, the DOTr also has P644 million worth of claims against the joint venture. Lim said this is for the delay in the delivery of the system.

Tamayo said they are negotiating with Thales to serve as CAAP's third party auditor for the maintenance of the CNS/ATM. However, Thales wanted the government to first settle the claims before entering into a new contract.

CAAP Air Navigation Service Assistant Director General Arnold Balucating explained that the application that they are currently using is still "sufficient" and it can provide all the required services.

"So far po yung application na ginagamit ng air traffic service ay sufficient naman po na ma-provide 'yung required service," Balucating said.

Poe pointed out that this was the same reason that the CAAP gave for the failed uninterruptible power supply which supposedly led to the airspace shutdown on January 1.

"'Yung isang UPS system ninyo 'di umano e naririnig niyong maingay na, nasira ang blower, pero sinabi niyo umaandar pa naman so tinuloy-tuloy niyo hanggang ito na nga 'yung mga nangyari. Tapos ito sasabihin mo e kasi okay pa naman. So at what point will you say 'No, it's really crucial that we update it already' until something like this happens?" Poe said.

Balucating then said that updating the software would also entail hardware upgrading.

"It could be now a blessing in disguise that this thing prompted us to focus on the deficiencies of CAAP and your equipment. Thankfully, there were no deaths involved because of the skills of our operators, air traffic control operators and some of our engineers but the fact is you are just weighing it, you are just hoping against hope that nothing will go wrong," Poe quipped.

"Since you are doing not just the bare minimum but not even the minimum of what is required," she added.

Poe then advised Tamayo to assert CAAP's fiscal autonomy after learning that the government-owned and controlled corporation has remitted P22 billion from 2016 up to the present to the national government.

"That could have secured all of the necessary services and upgrades that you needed," Poe said.

The Senate public services committee on Thursday launched an investigation into the fiasco that happened in the country's main gateway last January 1.

Philippine airspace effectively closed on New Year's Day due to technical issues at the CAAP's Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC).

At least 282 flights were canceled, diverted, or delayed, and some 56,000 passengers at NAIA were affected. —NB, GMA Integrated News