TurfSite Manila

Internet + Computer = Life! (version 3.20 build update 21012012)

Tag Archives: naia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Day 01

So, we just checked-in here at the InterContinental Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after a 12-hour journey from Manila. Now, I’m sure you’re wondering how a less than four (04) hours flight from Manila to Kuala Lumpur took us half a day? The answer: we took AirAsia via Clark Airfield (CRK) in Angeles City, Pampanga.

My day started at around 0530H when I arrived at the Philtranco Bus Terminal along EDSA in Pasay City. Philtranco is the only bus company in my locale that has a direct service to CRK/DMIA. The bus left the Pasay Terminal at around 0630H, then made a 15-minute stop at the back of SM Megamall of pick-up more passengers (half of the Philippine contingent to the Mozilla Camp Asia 2011 were among them). From Mandaluyong City, it took us 90 minutes to reach CRK/DMIA.

Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) is a complete shocker for me – as someone who is everyday at the NAIA Terminals 1-2-3-4 – the airport is really small compact. Noticed in the picture below where my colleagues are filling-up their embarkation cards:

DSCN6967

At around 1100H, passengers from our flight were asked to board the aircraft (read as: called to form a line, then troop the ramp / tarmac and get inside the plane using staircases). By the way, the AirAsia flight was scheduled to depart at 1105H (Actual Time of Departure is around 1130H). Good thing, the flight was not full:

DSCN6985

Continue reading →

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:

Cellphone Use To Be Banned Inside NAIA

MANILA, Philippines – To completely discourage immigration personnel from using their mobile phones while working, the Bureau of Immigration will install cellphone signal jammers inside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Commissioner Marcelino Libanan approved the purchase and installation of 12 cellphone dampers and jammers at the immigration arrival and departure areas.

Libanan said the move was also part of their campaign against human trafficking, noting that cellphone use allegedly enables some BI personnel to communicate with persons engaged in human trafficking and the irregular facilitation and escort of passengers.

“The strict implementation of cellphone ban will strengthen the bureau’s drive against human trafficking and, most importantly, it effectively prevents corruption,” he said.

Libanan added that the installation of the device will likewise discourage passengers from using their phones, which may also disrupt the immigration clearing process.

NAIA-BI operations chief Ferdinand Sampol, who proposed for the installation of cellphone blockers, said that the use of mobile phone by an immigration officer at work consumes his time and inconveniences passengers lining up at his counter.

The bureau is also looking to mount the same devices at the immigration area of NAIA 3 terminal when international flight services at the new airport become operational. - GMANews.TV

QF030 Emergency Landing at NAIA

I thought it was just another quiet Friday working day, when I over heard in the Manila Tower frequency that a plane is about to have an emergency landing. MIAA Fire, Rescue, and Safety personnel were alerted. Then minutes later, my phone rang, it’s the secretary of our General Manager asking why a Qantas Boeing 747-400 landed — quite unsual, since QF (Qantas Airways) flights are mostly at night. That’s the time I realized that the emergency landing was that QF 030 flight from Hongkong bound to Melbourne. Here are some pictures that I had taken using an Olympus u790SW digital camera: