Canceled flights during APEC can use Subic Bay airport

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Canceled flights during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit can use the Subic Bay airport.

Former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Richard Gordon made a proposal of transferring the flights to Subic Bay in a post in his Twitter account @DickGordonDG.

DOTC CANCELLED 1000 flts inconvenienced public for APEC. USE SUBIC airport & Clark airport now & 4 always. Decongest Manila.

— Richard J. Gordon (@DickGordonDG) November 11, 2015

Use 3 airports in SUBIC CLARK & Manila & 3 seaports of SUBIC , Mariveles & Manila & create new industries, tourism & ECONOMIC BOOM in Pinas.

— Richard J. Gordon (@DickGordonDG) November 11, 2015

During the 1996 APEC summit, Subic airport was also used and 24 heads of economies attended the meeting at that time, and the Federal Express also used the airport for several years according to Gordon.

We built Subic airport. Apec 96 used it. Fedex landed 18 cargo jets there for several years. Why don’t we use it today 4 Apec cancelled Flts.

— Richard J. Gordon (@DickGordonDG) November 11, 2015

“APEC ’96 used it. Fedex landed 18 cargo jets there for several years. Why don’t we use it today for APEC canceled flights?” He said in a report by Sheila Crisostomo of The Philippine Star.

A total number of 1, 364 flights have been canceled as of Oct. 30 to give way to the arrival of APEC delegates.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has issues notices to airmen (NOTAM) giving restrictions on aircrafts at the Ninoy International Airport from Nov. 17 to 20.

NOTAM B3227/15 restricts general aviation aircraft operations within 40-nautical mile radius of NAIA covering the vicinity of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) effective at 6 a.m. on November 17 to 7 p.m. of November 20.

Aircraft operations beyond the 40-nautical mile radius of NAIA general aviation craft shall be limited to local operations, excluding Clark and Subic International Airports.

Training aircraft of flying schools are also restricted to operate only outside the 40-nautical mile radius.

However, CAAP said that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation related operations with approval from APEC National Organizing Council (NOC) and duly coordinated with CAAP Operations and Rescue Coordination Center (ORCC) and aircraft on emergency mission are exemptions.

CAAP also implied the No-Fly Zone within two nautical miles from coordinates (PICC) due to special operations effective on November 17, 10 a.m. to November 20, 7 p.m.

Taking off and landing of aircraft on runway 31 is also prohibited, and no landing on runway 13 will be implemented also during the summit.