SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique — The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will be creating a task force to handle necessary preparations for Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) maiden Antique-Clark flight tentatively set on Oct. 28.
CAAP Area Manager Efren Nagrama, who met with local officials of Antique on Wednesday, said the task force will be at the Evelio B. Javier Airport in San Jose de Buenavista to do the necessary preparations starting October 8.
“The task force will be headed by someone from the Iloilo International Airport,” Nagrama said, adding they have yet to come up who will be part of the group.
“We will ensure that the airport is safe for landing” as the task force’s main functions will be to set up the terminal and airport security; perform technical and ground maintenance; and assist PAL in preparing for its administrative office.
Timothy Jason Mapeso, PAL Fleet Safety Pilot for Turbo Craft, who did an ocular inspection of the airport after their meeting, said they will give their recommendation to their higher management upon their return to Manila.
“The October 28 schedule for the maiden flight might be a little tight,” Mapeso said, adding if proposed schedule will not push through, then it will be held before end of the year.
Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao lauded the result of their meeting.
The governor, in her previous interview, said PAL might start to service Antique to Clark twice weekly and subsequently increase it to four flights per week with its new 86-seater Bombardier Q400 NF aircraft.
The airport in Antique ceased operation in 2007 due to lack of passengers. (Annabel Consuelo Petinglay/PNA)
