PAL taps aviation expert to help regain Category 1

Business Mirror
Tuesday, 10 May 2011 18:48 Recto Mercene / Reporter

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday said it has tapped the services of Tim Neel & Associates (TNA), a US-based aviation consultant, to train and provide technical assistance to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) to help the country regain full compliance with international aviation-safety standards.

In a statement, PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime J. Bautista said the contract with TNA involves technical assistance in Aviation Safety Oversight. It is envisioned to provide Caap with a “road map” to comply with safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao).

The Philippines remains on Category 2 status pending inspections by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union this year.

PAL’s contract with TNA involves technical assistance and delivery to Caap “at the shortest time possible” a comprehensive regulatory system, including an electronic database, inspector handbooks and technical guidance, advisory circulars, updates to the Philippine civil-aviation regulations and other related matters.

The amount of the contract cost is confidential, Bautista said.

“TNA will provide training and software at no cost to the Philippine government since PAL will shoulder all expenses for the duration of the project. As the regulatory agency, Caap, on the other hand, would be the one to implement needed reforms,” said Bautista.

Recognizing the importance of regaining compliance with Icao safety standards, lifting of the European Union blacklist and Category 2 rating by the US FAA, Bautista said the PAL board of directors—upon the suggestion of chairman Lucio Tan—offered to help the government by tapping TNA’s services.

As the only Philippine carrier flying to the United States, Bautista said it is in PAL’s best interest for the country to immediately get out of Category 2.

The US FAA’s rating downgrade prevents PAL from launching new routes, adding more flights and replacing its current fleet flying to and from the US. It also placed the Philippines in the company of Category 2 countries like Bangladesh, Congo, Gambia, Guyana, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe and others.

At the same time, although no Philippine carriers fly to Europe, the EU discourages its citizens from patronizing its carriers when flying into the country.

“While PAL is the principal beneficiary of the Category 2 lifting, the same will also benefit all other Philippine carriers with plans to operate in the US and other US territories,” Bautista added.

He also said if Caap is fully compliant with Icao standards, it could also pave the way for the lifting of Icao’s “significant safety concerns” and the EU blacklist of Philippine carriers.

Bautista added that PAL treats the TNA contract not only as a form of technical assistance to the Philippine government but also as an “investment” in preparation for the delivery of PAL’s four Boeing 777-300ERs in 2012 and 2013.

“In the short term, it would also allow PAL to make use of its two B777s to the US, the route they were originally intended for,” he said.

PAL’s technical assistance to Caap is not without precedent. Bautista noted that early this year four airlines, namely, PAL, Cebu Pacific, AirphilExpress and Zest Air, also provided assistance to Caap for the development of GPS approaches or required navigation approach for six of the country’s airports, following the failure of the aging very high frequency omnidirectional range and the instrument landing system.

According to Bautista, TNA, a consulting firm owned by retired US Brig. Gen. Tim Neel, is a company specializing in international aviation-safety matters, including the assessment of aviation safety standards at government civil-aviation authorities, international air carriers and airports.

Neel’s team is composed of seasoned auditors capable of conducting safety oversight audits and has conducted dozens of aviation-safety oversight audits and technical-assistance projects for foreign governments and foreign airlines covering most regions of the world, PAL said.