Puerto Princesa International Airport (Filipino: Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Puerto Princesa; Hiligaynon: Pangkalibutan nga Hulugpaan sang Puerto Princesa) (IATA: PPS, ICAO: RPVP) is an airport serving the general area of Puerto Princesa, located in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. It is classified as an international airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
The airport is the main gateway to the Puerto Princesa Underground River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Video Puerto Princesa International Airport
History
The airport dates back during the World War II to accommodate large Japanese transport aircraft to complement the grass airstrip south of the present-day location of NCCC Mall Palawan in Lacao Street. The airstrip was constructed by the Prisoners of War using crushed corals for illuminating night landings. During the Palawan liberation, several USAAF units were stationed here. It was rehabilitated and opened as a domestic airport around the late 1970s.
World War II
USAAF units based here included:
- Headquarters, XIII Fighter Command (1 March 1945 - November 1945)
- 42d Bombardment Group (March 1945 - January 1946)
- 347th Fighter Group (6 March - December 1945)
- 419th Night Fighter Squadron (6 March 1945 - 10 January 1946)
- 550th Night Fighter Squadron (DET) (9-19 June 1945)
Maps Puerto Princesa International Airport
New passenger terminal complex
To meet the growing air transportation demands of Puerto Princesa and the Province of Palawan, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) awarded the $82.9-million (P2.616 billion) contract to the Kumho Industrial Co. Ltd.-GS Engineering & Construction Joint Venture (Kumho-GS), a South Korean company for the construction of new passenger terminal and cargo terminal building, a new apron with 6 aircraft bays (4 for narrow body and 2 for wide body aircraft), connecting taxiways, new state-of-the-art air navigation system, and other support facilities in compliance with the international civil aviation standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The project was completed 30 months (approximately two years) from the groundbreaking rites. The new passenger terminal complex has an upgraded handling capacity of 2 million passengers annually, with an estimated peak passenger flow of 690 passengers per hour. It was officially inaugurated last 03 May 2017 and opened for commercial operations the following day (04 May 2017).
Runway
The airport consists of a single 2,600 meter (8,530 ft.) x 45 m. (approx. 148 ft.) wide runway running at a direction 09°/27°. The airport shares its single runway with Antonio Bautista Air Base. The runway is equipped with an Instrument Landing System, runway lights, and SSALF lighting approach for runway 09 and MALSF lighting approach for runway 27 making the airport capable of low visibility and night landings.
Fate of Old Terminal
Negotiations are still pending whether it will be utilized as a turboprop terminal of the airport or used by the Philippine Air Force.
Statistics
Passenger traffic
Airlines and destinations
Gallery
Accidents and incidents
> On January 11, 2011, Cebu Pacific Airbus 319 registered as RP-C3190 with 129 passengers and 6 crews on board swerved off the runway upon landing after touchdown. The aircraft sustained substantial damage on its nose and main landing gear with other damages on the left and right engine fan blades, aircraft underbelly and underwings. No one on board is injured.
See also
- List of airports in the Philippines
- Antonio Bautista Air Base
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force website http://www.af.mil.
External links
- World Aero Data - Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) Details
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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