Sangley Airport’s Maiden Operational Dry Run a Success

The Sangley Airport has successfully commenced its operational dry run today, 29 October 2019.

During the dry run, Sangley Airport welcomed without a hitch its maiden cargo flight – an ATR 72-500 cargo freighter from Cebu Pacific operated by CebGo.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade witnessed the arrival of the maiden flight, together with Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla and officials from the DOTr, its attached agencies, Philippine Air Force, and the Philippine Navy.

Following the freighter’s landing, Secretary Tugade announced that the full dry run will be concluded in seven (7) days, after which an inauguration will be held in the coming days to formalize the opening of the Sangley Airport.

“The dry run will be finished in seven days. After seven days, it will be operational as an ideal operating identity. Of course, kailangan natin i-inaugurate ‘yan, pero gusto ko maging operational talaga as a normal airport in seven days. Magkakaroon ‘ho ng inauguration na kung saan magbibigay galang at magbibigay pugay tayo sa Office of the President at Office of the Executive Secretary at sasabihin sa kanila, ‘Sir, handa na ‘ho ‘yung Sangley Airport, i-inaugurate niyo na’,” Secretary Tugade expressed.

For his part, Cavite Governor Remulla thanked the DOTr for the airport infrastructure project which he says will contribute to the overall development of Cavite province.

“The transformation from a moribund facility to a first-class facility for cargo and eventually for passengers is a big development for our province,” Governor Remulla said.

Inspections were also conducted at the airport’s new facilities such as the hangar, runway, and Passenger Terminal Building (PTB).

For accessibility, Secretary Tugade announced that a full ferry service was made available for water travel of passengers between Pasay and Sangley Airport. The ferry trip lasts no more than 15 minutes.

At present, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has set up a temporary ferry terminal in a Coast Guard wharf near the airport.

A Point-to-Point (P2P) bus service was also made available to provide additional accessibility to Sangley Airport. It will carry two (2) routes, namely, Sangley to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and Sangley to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.

Furthermore, access roads are being planned together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the concept of “water jeepneys” was proposed for operability by December, with a planned route from Cavite to Divisoria.

The Sangley Airport, which officially started construction in 2018, commenced 24/7 construction works in June this year as instructed by Secretary Tugade, to meet the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte. The President pushed for the utilization of Sangley for general aviation and turboprop cargo operations to help ease the increasing air traffic at NAIA.

With only a few finishing works remaining, Sangley Airport now has a passenger terminal building that can cater to 160 passengers at any given time, two (2) hangars, Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS), parking area, drainage system, access road, power house, cistern tank, CCTV, baggage carousel, x-ray machines, weighing conveyor, fire trucks, and more.

The operational dry run was conducted in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Manila International Airport Authority, Office for Transportation Security, Civil Aeronautics Board, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Coast Guard and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board – LTFRB. (DOTr PR)