The Worst Air Disaster in Aviation History

I had just finished watching the 3rd episode of the 16th season of Mayday/Air Crash Investigation. I can’t believe that the show has been running for sixteen seasons already! Time flies so fast. I can still remember back in my early days in college when I would stay up late just to binge watch this on YouTube. Did I mention that our DSL connection that time wasn’t really that fast? So it was really a struggle to catch up with the latest episodes and seasons of this show. For some, watching ACI is scary especially when you’re a frequent flyer but for me, it really is an informative show and I learned a LOT of things which eventually helped me in building my career in air traffic control.

The third episode of the latest season of Mayday/Air Crash Investigation is all about the infamous Tenerife accident, the deadliest accident in aviation history. Shortly after 5PM, two Boeing 747s -- Pan Am and KLM Royal Dutch Airline -- collided on the runway. 583 lives were lost in an instant. This is a summary of what really transpired on that fateful day.

Airbus A321 in Tacloban

Just to prove that Tacloban's Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport is capable to handle Airbus A321-200. Although, this type of aircraft is only allowed to park at either Bay 1 and 3 and the north or south taxiway is closed respectively due to the A321's length.

Took this photo yesterday using my Canon EOS 1100D camera, 50mm f/1.8.

PS: My panning photo sucks. Need to practice my panning skills. Used to be an expert. I guess that kind of photography skill wears out easily.

CEB387: 18th Year

Today marks the 18th year anniversary of the doomed Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J-387. On the second day of February 1998, the DC-9-32 aircraft crashed on the slopes of Mount Sumagaya in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, killing 104 people on board.

SYNOPSIS:

It was a regular scheduled domestic flight from Manila to Cagayan de Oro City, the regional center of Misamis Oriental. The plane departed Manila at exactly 9AM (0100 UTC) but made an unscheduled stop at Tacloban City to deliver a spare tire needed by their grounded DC-9-32 aircraft. After that brief unscheduled stop, it flew all the way to its final destination. The plane was scheduled to land Cagayan de Oro’s Lumbia Airport at around 11AM (0300 UTC).

Brand New Adventure

1. I just turned 23 last week and yey, got a surprise from my roommates. How sweet of you guys. In the afternoon, it rained so hard and the wind was so strong. But I think I'd receive tremendous blessings before turning 24. Well, keeping my hopes high in my new career as an Air Traffic Controller.
2. Speaking of career, graduation is just around the corner. I still can't believe that I made it to the finish line!!! Woohoo! Cheers!
3. I made an article about the seven misconceptions in Davao primarily because I just wanted to update my travel blog. I originally planned to write ten, but I can only think of seven. Haha! I did not expect that it would be a hit. Originally published last August 2, it had garnered more than 11,000 pageviews! I don't know, maybe it's the humor or the truth.... Or simply both? IDK. The article could have been written better, but yeah, tried my best.
4. I am so happy that we were granted a one week vacation after our graduation. Can't wait to go back to Davao for the nth time. At least, I am going to be there longer. Spending weekends in Davao was not enough and I would always wanted to stay longer.
5. Just updating my personal blog. Haha!

So, this is it!

Finally, the long wait is over. CAAP sent me an SMS last week. It was good news.

I am now qualified to train as an Air Traffic Controller at Civil Aviation Training Center in Parañaque, Metro Manila. I know that I'd be away from home for more than a year, but I know I can do it. And yes, I am slowly reaching my dreams. Gosh, I didn't expect this! To be honest, I did not expect that I'd nail the exam, pass the medical exam (thank God I am not color blind) and nail the interview (got a Very Satisfactory rating).

This is it! The pressure's on me, actually. I am carrying my uncle's surname. I should study hard. I swear, I won't let him down. I know this requires intense mental discipline. Well, knowing my attitude, I do not settle with mediocrity, I always strive hard to be on top... in a good way of course!

I know I can do it. If my uncle did it, kaya ko rin to. One year Renz, just one year, and everything's gonna be worth it. Say good bye to my senyorito life... ugh, well... temporarily. This is going to be a fun and exciting journey!

This is Renz, now ready to serve the Philippine airspace!

Cost Cutting Measures

In aviation industry, airline companies need to have an optimum profit and one way to achieve this is through cost cutting. In simple economics, the profit makes the company running. There are several ways to cut off the expenses and raise revenue, like through the usage of air bridges, fuel-passenger ratio and the efficiency of the aircraft.

What's disturbing is that some airline companies include aircraft maintenance to their cost cutting measures. This shouldn't be done since maintenance, as the name implies maintains the aircraft to its top condition. If anything goes wrong with the aircraft, it should be treated through keen repair and inspection by the maintenance crew. A single mistake is already proven fatal, as what we have heard or read from the news since the dawn of the aviation industry. Thousands of lives have already been compromised due to the neglect of some aviation companies. Greed might have taken over by some officials. In return lives of the innocent travelers are at risk, at all times.

Sometimes in life, we need to consider a lot of things before implementing it. We have to think whether if it is for the betterment of the people and not just for our own benefit.