Philippine senator points out need for upgrading aviation safety measures

Philippine senator Francis Tolentino reminded the country’s aviation and travel sectors of the need to upgrade aviation safety measures implemented among Philippine airports.

Tolentino made his remarks during his radio programme on Monday, 30th December, the day after the deadly Jeju Air 7C2216 crash in South Korea.

During the programme, Tolentino remarked: “Changes in the pattern and volume of migratory birds should be constantly tracked, especially since the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is located a few kilometers from Freedom Island, a protected bird sanctuary in Manila Bay.”

Assurance from relevant authorities

For their part, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) likewise assured the Filipino public of the ongoing upgrades to the country’s aviation safety protocols, particularly in preventing bird strikes.

CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio who was a guest on Tolentino’s programme spoke about how the increasing population of migratory birds around airports and measures to mitigate bird strikes were among the topics discussed by the organisation in a recent seminar for airport safety personnel.

Apolonio added that climate change is one of the factors considered by the agency in implementing measures to deter bird strikes on aircraft that are either taking off or landing at the country’s airports.