By the time this blog post is published here, this will be my precise location in the globe:
+15° 10′ 9.88", +120° 32′ 49.67"
15.169410, 120.547131
Category Archives: Aviation
Servicing PNoy’s Presidential Flight for the Nth Time
As the President leaves the country for the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii earlier today, I got the privilege boarding the Presidential plane (a Philippine Airlines Airbus A340) and snapping some pictures before PNoy boards the aircraft.
As always, I am honored to be of service to the President of the masses.
US Marines CH-46 Sea Knight Spotted Inside NAIA Complex
Saw 02 units of Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters (can be mistaken as CH-47 Chinook, but the CH-46 is the smaller version and is used by the US Marines) landing inside the NAIA Complex earlier today. Just learned from the local news channel that there’s an on-going “Balikatan Exercises” in the Palawan island.
Brings back the memories of yesteryears when my dad gave me battery-operated Chinook helicopter during his last visit to the Middle East.
Here goes the aviator in me:
Servicing the Presidential Flight
I was lucky enough to be included in our company’s servicing team to document the delivery of inflight meal requirements of the Presidential Flight this afternoon. President Noynoy Aquino left for Jakarta, Indonesia onboard a Bombardier Challenger 600 (chartered from Subic Air) at the Villamor Air Base.
We, together with our General Manager Rhodel Esteban, were at the plane side by 1500H – that’s 02 hours prior to the ETD of Kalayaan 1 (the call sign of the PHL presidential flight; the United States of America uses Air Force 1) and it was freaking hot at the ramp.
Minutes before 1700H, the presidential convoy arrived and moments later, P-Noy was at the podium to address the cabinet members (Vice-President Jojo Binay was there, too) present. After his speech, the President headed directly to the waiting aircraft. While he was at the staircase towards the door of the aircraft, a media man shouted, “Sir! Sir!” Then P-Noy looked back and waved to the crowd – good thing I was able to press the shutter of my camera at that instant!
Of course, I will not let the chance of having my pic taken in front of the Presidential plane (for this trip):
ANA Flies Out of NAIA Terminal 3
(Updated) Japan’s second largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA; IATA code is NH) will be was the first non-budget airline (and first non-Filipino airline) to use the NAIA Terminal 3 come since Monday, 28 Feb 2011. Hopefully, all (or even just some) of the foreign carriers operating at the NAIA Terminal 1 now will move to the Terminal 3 soon.
I was there during the send-off ceremonies for the inaugural flight:
And also during the flight’s arrival the night before:
Exodus of PAL Pilots Has Started
Been hearing for more than a week now from colleagues in the aviation industry about a handful number of Philippine Airlines (PAL) pilots, particularly those who are licensed to commander Airbus A319/A320 aircrafts, planning to leave the flag carrier in search of greener pastures. The move was apparently agitated by PAL’s decision to “lend” some of the pilots to Air Philippines Express — a “sister” airline of PAL.
The above was somewhat “confirmed” today when PAL cancelled around 10 flights, primarily due to lack of Airbus A319/A320 pilots.
A Valentine Weekend of Everything That Flies
My family celebrated the Chinese New Year, which happened to fall on Valentine’s Day, today in a very unique way.
Last night, we decided to embark on a road trip all the way from Manila to Angeles City, Pampanga – via Victory Liner. We decided to leave the car home, getting rid of the traffic and driving fatigue hassles along the way. The last bus that will pass through the Angeles Exit left Pasay City at 1700H of Saturday. Two hours after, we reached our destination: Marquee Mall, Angeles City.
