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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Magalong hopes Loakan Airport would be open to domestic flights by Christmas time

Magalong hopes Loakan Airport would be open to domestic flights by Christmas time

Published Aug 27, 2022 08:14 pm

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong is expecting that by Christmas time, the Loakan Airport would be open to commercial flights again after a long while.

LOAKAN Airport runway.

Magalong recently met with Secretary Jaime Bautista of the Department of Transportation (DOTR) and acting director general Capt. Manuel Antonio Lara Tamayo of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to discuss the technical requirements needed to upgrade the airport so it could service domestic flights.

Magalong Secretary Bautista assured him of the complete rehabilitation and re-opening of the Loakan Airport.

He said the DOTR and CAAP will be infusing P68 million for the rehabilitation of the airport terminal including the upgrading of the necessary Instrument Landing System (ILS) that will guide aircrafts in maneuvering in and out of the airport even during bad weather conditions.

“The CAAP is well versed of the developments needed for the Loakan Airport and their technical team will start ocular inspections next week,” Magalong said.

The CAAP technical team will also be inspecting the ongoing drainage works and the improvement of the runway to extend the length by at least 100 meters from the present 1.683 meters.

“I was told the present runway is sufficient enough to accommodate turboprop aircrafts like the Q400 (Dash 8) Bombardier which is an 80-seater plane,” Magalong said.

Obstructions, either natural or man-made, shall be removed to give way to the upgrading of the old airport, Magalong said.

At least 35 natural obstructions were counted that needed to be acted upon.

Residents within the airport’s buffer zone were also reminded to voluntarily remove their structures or allow the city government to demolish.

More than a hundred individuals have been given notices by the city government since 2020 that they are within the buffer zone.

The CAAP declared the 150-meter width from the center of the airport or 75 meters on both sides as the buffer zone of the Loakan airport.

“We cannot compromise safety. The paramount concern for aviation is safety and besides those who built their structures within the CAAP property have no building permit,” Magalong said.

Built in 1934, the Loakan Airport served domestic flights until a devastating earthquake struck northern Luzon in July 1990. Currently, the airport only services chartered and military flights on demand.

The small airport is classified as a Class 2 principal (minor domestic) airport by the CAAP. It is the only airport in the famous mountain hideaway.

‘Its short runway, frequent low visibility, and deep ravines at both ends of the runway continue to challenge pilots greatly, especially when it comes to landing.’

If completed, Baguio City-bound tourists could have a direct flight to the Summer Capital.

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