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CIVIL
aviation in the country remains in limbo, being unable
to get out of the United States Federal Aviation
Administration downgrade to Category 2 imposed six
months ago for the country’s lack of the required
International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao)
structural systems.
The
immediate effect of the downgrading includes the
suspension of additional international flights to the
United States, a main destination of the flag carrier
Philippine Airlines.
The
reason is the failure so far of President Arroyo to
appoint the chief—designated as a director general—of
the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap),
a higher-ranking agency than the Air Transportation
Office that it replaced and which is empowered to make
substantial improvements in Philippine civil aviation.
The
comprehensive revamp will have to include training of
technical personnel, appointing inspectors and pilots,
hiring new qualified officials, computerization of some
departments, especially of their documentation
pertaining to those issued by or required by the Icao.
Without
their chief, the 7-member board of directors—the board
chairman and five members have been appointed—that
comprises the Caap could not convene to take up the
proposed sweeping face-lift of Philippine aviation
required by the Icao for the country to be restored to
Category 1.
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza is the Caap
board chairman; board members include the heads of the
Departments of Foreign Affairs, of Finance, of Labor, of
Justice and of Interior and Local Government.
The Caap
Law carries a stipulation that within 60 days after
enactment, Malacañang should appoint the DG, which
should be on May 4 because the law was signed March 4.
An Ato
source, who requested not to be identified due to the
sensitivity of his position, said their office is
helpless to implement any changes because they lack the
authority. “The funds could not be touched because only
the Caap has the [power] to disburse it.”
So far,
the Ato official said Malacañang appears to have
narrowed down the 30 applicants for the DG post to five
people. One of them is allegedly a protégé of PAL CEO
Lucio Tan.
Tan had
been reported saying he would delay buying new jetliners
if the Caap remains without a head since he would not be
able to use these airplanes for the United States route
anyway—that is, until the Category 1 status is regained. |
