Senator Raffy Tulfo proposes for the creation of an independent transportation safety board that will ensure strict monitoring and implementation of the regular maintenance of aircraft in general aviation to avoid life-threatening accidents.
Tulfo said the high number of airplane crashes that claimed many lives in just a span of four years is unacceptable, citing data from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) showing 35 aircraft crashes from 2018 to 2022.
“35 aircraft crashed from 2018 to 2022.”
This is the reason why the legislator believes that it is high time to pass a law that will ensure regular safety inspections and needed investigations on air transportations.
“Sa panahon kasi ngayon, crash muna bago imbestiga! This is unacceptable!” the lawmaker pointed out.
In making such a recommendation, the senator lamented that most of the investigations about airplane crashes in the past often point to mechanical problems despite good weather conditions.
Likewise, in the present setup, he said that the aircraft owner or operator often purposely fails to regularly conduct preventive maintenance activities of the airplane.
This is because CAAP supposedly lacks manpower to consistently monitor and suspend aircraft operations of those that are non-compliant with the mandated maintenance schedule of aircrafts
“Aircrafts that need repair or replacement of parts should already be grounded by the board and must not be allowed to operate.”
Tulfo also stressed aircrafts that need repair or replacement of parts should already be grounded by the board and must not be allowed to operate.
Additionally, he said that the independent board should be the one tasked to monitor and investigate all aviation-related accidents to ensure independence and fairness.
It may be recalled that CAAP paid a courtesy visit to Tulfo last July 20 which gave him a chance to divulge to them some of the aviation problems he found out mostly based on the complaints he received.
