Air Transportation Office
Encyclopedia
The Philippines
' Civil Aviation Authority formerly Air Transportation Office, abbreviated as CAAP, is an agency of the Philippine government
under the Department of Transportation and Communications
responsible for implementing policies on civil aviation to assure safe, economic and efficient air travel. The agency also investigates aviation accidents. The agency's main office is in Pasay City
.
on November 20, 1931 created an Office under the Department of Commerce and Communications to handle aviation matters, particularly the enforcement of rules and regulations governing commercial aviation as well as private flying. It was amended by Act 3996 to include licensing of airmen and aircraft, inspection of aircraft concerning air traffic rules, schedules and rates and enforcement of Aviation Laws.
From 1932 to 1936, there were no standard procedures as to the licensing of airmen, registration of aircraft and recording of various aeronautical activities connected with commercial aviation. There were attempts made to register planes and their owners without ascertaining their airworthiness and to record names of pilots, airplane mechanics and other details.
In 1933, the office of Technical Assistant of Aviation matters was enlarged into the Aeronautics Division under the Department of Commerce and Industry, the functions of which were embodied in Administrative Order No. 309, a joint Bulletin issued by the Department of Public Works and Communications and the Department of Finance.
In October 1934, Act 4033 was passed to require a franchise from the Philippine government
in order to operate an air service and to regulate foreign aircraft operations.
On November 12, 1936, the Philippine Legislative
passed Commonwealth Act No. 168, better known as the Civil Aviation Law of the Philippines
which created the Bureau of Aeronautics. After the liberation of the Philippines
in March 1945, the Bureau was reorganized and placed under the Department of National Defense
. Among its functions was to promulgate Civil Aviation Regulations.
On October 1947, Executive Order No. 94 which reorganized the government transferred Bureau of Aeronautics to the Newly created Department of Commerce and Industry and renamed Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA).
On June 5, 1948, Republic Act
224 created the National Airports Corporation which was charged with the management and operations of all national airports.
On June 20, 1952, Republic Act
No. 776, otherwise known as the Civil Aeronautics Act of the Philippines
reorganized the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Civil Aeronautics Administration. It defined the powers and duties of both agencies including the funds, personnel and the regulations of Civil Aviation.
On October 19, 1956, Executive Order No. 209 placed the Civil Aeronautics Administration under the administrative supervision and control of the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications.
On January 20, 1975, Letter of Instruction No. 244 transferred to the Department of Public Highways the responsibilities relative to airport plans, designs, construction, improvement, maintenance as well as site acquisition. The responsibilities related to location, planning design and funding were later returned to the CAA.
On July 23, 1979, Executive Order No. 546, the CAA was renamed the Bureau of Air Transportation (BAT) and placed under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications
.
On April 13, 1987, Executive Order No. 125-A renamed the Bureau of Air Transportation the Air Transportation Office headed by the Assistant Secretary of Air Transportation.
On December 3, 2007, Senator
Edgardo J. Angara filed senate bill number 1932, otherwise known as CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY ACT OF 2007, authorizing the appropriation of funds therefore, and for other purposes. The bill abolishes the Air Transportation Office (ATO) and in its stead creates the Civil Aviation Authority
(CAA), which is mandated to set comprehensive, clear and impartial rules of the aviation industry. Under the new law, the CAA shall be an independent regulatory body with quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers with corporate attributes and on March 4, 2008, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
sign into law.
Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) downgraded the Philippines
' rating to Category 2 from Category 1, since its Air Transportation Office (Philippines) (ATO) did not fully satisfy international safety standards. Consequently, Philippine Airlines
(PAL) president Jaime Bautista stated that its 2008 growth targets would be lowered. Just out of 8 years of receivership
last year, the FAA decision prevented PAL from increasing US flights from 33 per week. Then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
dismissed acting Air Transportation Office chief Danilo Dimagiba after the downgrade and designated DOTC [Department of Transportation and Communications] Secretary Leandro Mendoza
as concurrent Officer in Charge of ATO. Also, the Embassy of the United States in Manila
warned US citizens in the Philippines "to refrain from using Philippine-based carriers due to 'serious concerns' about the ATO's alleged mishandling of the aviation industry." Dimagiba blamed lack of funds for the FAA downgrade, alleging that ATO needs Php 1 billion ($1 = Php 40), roughly around $25,000,000.
Effective April 1, 2010, the European Union, following the FAA's lead, banned Philippine carriers from flying to Europe. Asia Times reported, "EU ambassador Alistair MacDonald said: 'The commission considers that the supervisory authority is currently not able to implement and enforce the relevant safety standards, and decided therefore to ban from EU airspace all air carriers licensed in the Philippines until these deficiencies are corrected.'"
On June 19, 2010, important navigation equipment at the Manila airport maintained by CAAP failed. The very high frequency omni-directional radio range (VOR) which helps planes land especially in bad weather stopped working due to heavy rain and there was no available replacement. One had to be brought from another airport.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
' Civil Aviation Authority formerly Air Transportation Office, abbreviated as CAAP, is an agency of the Philippine government
Politics of the Philippines
The Politics of the Philippines takes place in an organized framework of a presidential, representative, and democratic republic whereby the president is both the head of state and the head of government within a pluriform multi-party system...
under the Department of Transportation and Communications
Department of Transportation and Communications (Philippines)
The Department of Transportation and Communications is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the maintenance and expansion of viable, efficient, and dependable transportation and communications systems as effective instruments for national recovery and economic...
responsible for implementing policies on civil aviation to assure safe, economic and efficient air travel. The agency also investigates aviation accidents. The agency's main office is in Pasay City
Pasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
.
History
Legislative Act No. 3909 passed by the Philippine LegislativeCongress of the Philippines
The Congress of the Philippines is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate , and the House of Representatives although commonly in the Philippines the term congress refers to the latter.The Senate is composed of 24 senators half...
on November 20, 1931 created an Office under the Department of Commerce and Communications to handle aviation matters, particularly the enforcement of rules and regulations governing commercial aviation as well as private flying. It was amended by Act 3996 to include licensing of airmen and aircraft, inspection of aircraft concerning air traffic rules, schedules and rates and enforcement of Aviation Laws.
From 1932 to 1936, there were no standard procedures as to the licensing of airmen, registration of aircraft and recording of various aeronautical activities connected with commercial aviation. There were attempts made to register planes and their owners without ascertaining their airworthiness and to record names of pilots, airplane mechanics and other details.
In 1933, the office of Technical Assistant of Aviation matters was enlarged into the Aeronautics Division under the Department of Commerce and Industry, the functions of which were embodied in Administrative Order No. 309, a joint Bulletin issued by the Department of Public Works and Communications and the Department of Finance.
In October 1934, Act 4033 was passed to require a franchise from the Philippine government
Politics of the Philippines
The Politics of the Philippines takes place in an organized framework of a presidential, representative, and democratic republic whereby the president is both the head of state and the head of government within a pluriform multi-party system...
in order to operate an air service and to regulate foreign aircraft operations.
On November 12, 1936, the Philippine Legislative
Congress of the Philippines
The Congress of the Philippines is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate , and the House of Representatives although commonly in the Philippines the term congress refers to the latter.The Senate is composed of 24 senators half...
passed Commonwealth Act No. 168, better known as the Civil Aviation Law of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
which created the Bureau of Aeronautics. After the liberation of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in March 1945, the Bureau was reorganized and placed under the Department of National Defense
Department of National Defense (Philippines)
The Department of National Defense is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for guarding against external and internal threats to peace and security in the country...
. Among its functions was to promulgate Civil Aviation Regulations.
On October 1947, Executive Order No. 94 which reorganized the government transferred Bureau of Aeronautics to the Newly created Department of Commerce and Industry and renamed Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA).
On June 5, 1948, Republic Act
Republic Acts of the Philippines
This article contains a partial list of Philippine laws. Philippine laws have had various nomenclature designations at different periods in the history of the Philippines, as shown in the following table:...
224 created the National Airports Corporation which was charged with the management and operations of all national airports.
On June 20, 1952, Republic Act
Republic Acts of the Philippines
This article contains a partial list of Philippine laws. Philippine laws have had various nomenclature designations at different periods in the history of the Philippines, as shown in the following table:...
No. 776, otherwise known as the Civil Aeronautics Act of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
reorganized the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Civil Aeronautics Administration. It defined the powers and duties of both agencies including the funds, personnel and the regulations of Civil Aviation.
On October 19, 1956, Executive Order No. 209 placed the Civil Aeronautics Administration under the administrative supervision and control of the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications.
- Marcos Era
On January 20, 1975, Letter of Instruction No. 244 transferred to the Department of Public Highways the responsibilities relative to airport plans, designs, construction, improvement, maintenance as well as site acquisition. The responsibilities related to location, planning design and funding were later returned to the CAA.
On July 23, 1979, Executive Order No. 546, the CAA was renamed the Bureau of Air Transportation (BAT) and placed under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications
Department of Transportation and Communications (Philippines)
The Department of Transportation and Communications is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the maintenance and expansion of viable, efficient, and dependable transportation and communications systems as effective instruments for national recovery and economic...
.
- Cory Aquino Presidency
On April 13, 1987, Executive Order No. 125-A renamed the Bureau of Air Transportation the Air Transportation Office headed by the Assistant Secretary of Air Transportation.
- Arroyo Administration
On December 3, 2007, Senator
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
Edgardo J. Angara filed senate bill number 1932, otherwise known as CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY ACT OF 2007, authorizing the appropriation of funds therefore, and for other purposes. The bill abolishes the Air Transportation Office (ATO) and in its stead creates the Civil Aviation Authority
Civil Aviation Authority
This is a list of national and supra-national civil aviation authorities.-See also:* Air route authority between the United States and the People's Republic of China* National Transportation Safety Board -External links:****...
(CAA), which is mandated to set comprehensive, clear and impartial rules of the aviation industry. Under the new law, the CAA shall be an independent regulatory body with quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers with corporate attributes and on March 4, 2008, President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
sign into law.
FAA and EU downgrades and other controversies
On January 17, 2008, the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA) downgraded the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
' rating to Category 2 from Category 1, since its Air Transportation Office (Philippines) (ATO) did not fully satisfy international safety standards. Consequently, Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
(PAL) president Jaime Bautista stated that its 2008 growth targets would be lowered. Just out of 8 years of receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
last year, the FAA decision prevented PAL from increasing US flights from 33 per week. Then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
dismissed acting Air Transportation Office chief Danilo Dimagiba after the downgrade and designated DOTC [Department of Transportation and Communications] Secretary Leandro Mendoza
Leandro Mendoza
Leandro Ramos Mendoza, was the Philippine Executive Secretary, was born on March 24, 1946 in San Juan, Batangas.He finished his Bachelor of Science degree at the Philippine Military Academy; his Master of Arts in Public Management at the University of the Philippines - Visayas, Cebu City; and...
as concurrent Officer in Charge of ATO. Also, the Embassy of the United States in Manila
Embassy of the United States in Manila
The Embassy of the United States of America to the Republic of the Philippines is situated in the Chancery Building of the Manila American Embassy along Roxas Boulevard in Manila...
warned US citizens in the Philippines "to refrain from using Philippine-based carriers due to 'serious concerns' about the ATO's alleged mishandling of the aviation industry." Dimagiba blamed lack of funds for the FAA downgrade, alleging that ATO needs Php 1 billion ($1 = Php 40), roughly around $25,000,000.
Effective April 1, 2010, the European Union, following the FAA's lead, banned Philippine carriers from flying to Europe. Asia Times reported, "EU ambassador Alistair MacDonald said: 'The commission considers that the supervisory authority is currently not able to implement and enforce the relevant safety standards, and decided therefore to ban from EU airspace all air carriers licensed in the Philippines until these deficiencies are corrected.'"
On June 19, 2010, important navigation equipment at the Manila airport maintained by CAAP failed. The very high frequency omni-directional radio range (VOR) which helps planes land especially in bad weather stopped working due to heavy rain and there was no available replacement. One had to be brought from another airport.
See also
- Department of Transportation and CommunicationsDepartment of Transportation and Communications (Philippines)The Department of Transportation and Communications is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the maintenance and expansion of viable, efficient, and dependable transportation and communications systems as effective instruments for national recovery and economic...
- Civil aviation authorityCivil Aviation AuthorityThis is a list of national and supra-national civil aviation authorities.-See also:* Air route authority between the United States and the People's Republic of China* National Transportation Safety Board -External links:****...
- List of civil aviation authorities