Revival of Subic Airport eyed

The government is looking to revive the Subic Airport to ease congestion in the country’s main international gateway.

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said the government would want to study if the Subic Airport can be restored into a fully functioning airport.

“It is a good airport but the equipment is no longer there. Maybe we can revive it,” he said.

In 2010, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority planned to convert the airport after the Federal Express transferred its Asia Pacific hub from Subic to Guangzhou in China.

The revival of the airport is seen to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

At present, 87 percent of the country’s air traffic goes through Manila.

Last year, NAIA’s terminals served over 36 million passengers, higher than its annual maximum capacity of 35 million.

To help decongest the NAIA, the government wants to use Clark International Airport.

Tugade said earlier that the government is looking to upgrade Clark International Airport through public-private partnership program.

He said the private sector is competent in building and operating airports.

“Clark Airport has to be addressed by improving the facilities. There are programs to put up additional equipment. Some (pieces of) equipment there are no longer operable,” he said. (Louella Desiderio, The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/09/05/1620537/revival-subic-airport-eyed

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SBMA approves military bases inside Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has approved a resolution allowing the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Navy (PN) to set-up partial military bases inside the Freeport, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia announced on Monday.

PAF is planning to house about 25 fighter jets from South Korea in the Fedex area adjacent to the Subic Bay International Airport while the Philippine Navy is asking for the area encompassing the Alava Pier and the Juliet and Rivera wharfs where two naval cutter will be home ported.

With the ongoing Balikatan exercises between United States and Filipino forces and the newly-approved Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the planned air and naval bases inside the Subic Freeport zone will naturally also be used by American troops.

“We have to stress here that these are Philippine bases not American bases,” Garcia pointed out.

With regards to EDCA, the Garcia said that this is still being worked out. “Materials and supplies pwede siguro dito,” he said.

Garcia said the SBMA board has approved in principle the setting-up of the two bases for the PAF and PN “in the interest of national security.”

“But I have requested that locators be allowed to continue with their operation,” he said.

Two US C-130 planes were spotted at the Subic Bay International Airport while some American sea vessels were seen at the Alava Pier and near the Rivera and Juliet wharfs of the former American naval base.

Garcia said that the airplanes are part of the Balikatan. (Ernie B. Esconde, Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/sbma-approves-military-bases-inside-freeport/94476/

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Aviation Concepts adds a corporate 757 to its growing fleet in Subic Bay

Aviation Concepts Incorporated (ACI) is expanding its managed fleet at the Subic Bay International Airport with the addition of a Corporate 757 aircraft.

The Boeing 757 will be operated as a private category aircraft and will perform VIP flights. ACI will provide full operational support, with Aviation Concepts Technical Services, Incorporated (ACTSI) handling hangarage, maintenance, and cleaning for this aircraft.

Terry Habeck, Chief Excutive Officer of both companies said the addition of the Boeing 757 corporate aircraft is an exciting opportunity for ACI.

"We have the infrastructure and resources in place to safely support the operations and maintenance of this aircraft. Our Subic Bay, Philippines facility was once home to the United States Navy and then Federal Express. The 757 will fit easily in one fifth of our hangar, leaving ample room for additional aircraft. The close proximity to Hong Kong and lower costs has given Subic Bay a regional advantage over other airports," Habeck said.

Habeck pointed out that clients wanting an alternative to the overcrowded and expensive China and Hong Kong airports have found Subic Bay to be an aviation paradise and a great solution for their aviation needs. "The environment in Hong Kong and many Mainland China airports is corrosive due to pollution and acid rain."

The Group has seen continuous growth in both in operations and maintenance. "We have the only business jet facility in Asia that can easily house a large aircraft such as this Corporate 757. Our highly trained and experienced engineers and ground staff will perform the maintenance and cleaning onsite, which will save the owner a tremendous amount of time and money," Habeck added.

ACI/ACTSI currently has hangars in Guam, USA, Tokyo, Japan, and Subic Bay, Philippines, as well as operations offices in Manila and Hong Kong.

ACI anticipates further growth in both the private and charter fleets. The company moved its headquarters from Southern California to Asia nearly 15 years ago in anticipation of the regional growth.

ACI has managed aircraft based all over Asia and has formed relationships and partnerships that continue to support the company's vision for world-class service and in keeping with industry best practices. The company has a robust safety management system that underscores our commitment to keeping clients, staff and industry colleagues safe and secure.

ACTSI provides a level of service that is based upon proactive and preventive maintenance support that is difficult to obtain in Asia. ACTSI also offers long term hangarage for the ultimate in asset protection for less the cost of parking outside in Hong Kong and China. The cost of moving an aircraft to Subic Bay for maintenance or hangarage is often offset by pure saving alone.

http://www.einnews.com/pr_news/198518108/aviation-concepts-incorporated-adds-a-corporate-757-to-it-s-growing-fleet

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FedEx to continue CSR, business activities in RP

FEDERAL Express (FedEx) Philippines says it will continue supporting the communities and businesses in the coming years despite its recent pullout of its Asia-Pacific hub in Subic, Olongapo.

Samuel S. David, FedEx country manager, said its continuing corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the Philippines only indicate that they want to do business here on a long term basis.

“History will show that companies that focus its efforts only on short-term profit is [using] a business model that is not bound to succeed in the long term. So our presence in the Philippines is long term,” David said in an interview.

The FedEx official said the company’s strategic partnerships with various non-profit groups will also continue for as long as these organizations will remain within the thrust of the firm. FedEx’s CSR thrusts are on human services, education, emergency and relief and pedestrian and child safety.

At present, the company is in partnership with organizations such as Gawad Kalinga, Safe Kids Philippines and Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge.

The company also gives financial support to schools in eight different Gawad Kalinga communities, three of which are in Parañaque City and the others are in Zambales, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon.

David, who also managed the company’s former Asia-Pacific hub in Subic before its pullout earlier this year, said they may have further partnerships with other groups in the future.

At the moment, David said that they are monitoring Mayon Volcano in Bicol as they may be of help to the communities there.

During the relief efforts for typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng that visited the country in October, FedEx was instrumental in moving goods on the ground by providing trucks and helped groups such as the Philippine National Red Cross, ABS-CBN Foundation, and GMA Kapuso Foundation.

Over $30,000 in cash donations was raised by FedEx from its employees in the Asia-Pacific region, David said.

After pulling the plug on its Subic facility, FedEx said its operations in the country will be focused in Manila and in Cebu, mainly on exports of electronics materials.

“FedEx will maintain its presence in the Philippines and remains committed to the Philippine market in the long term as we expand our operations gateway in Manila, with back-office facilities being ramped up as part of a regional strategy to centralize certain services,” the company earlier said. (VG Cabuag, Business Mirror)

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