Phuket Airport 100% Ready

[Mid]

Phuket Airport 100% ready

Passengers undettered by the Sunday's plane crash

Tue, September 18, 2007 : Last updated 17:37 hours

Phuket International Airport Director Pornchai Eua-aree insisted Tuesday that the airport is "100 per cent ready" in terms of safety measures and to resume full operation following the Sunday's plane crash.

The airport receives the confirmation of landing and take-offs of 106 flights per day, he said.

The airport's maximum capacity is 114 flights a day.

He also insisted that located by the shore, despite strong wind the airport does not constitute any obstacles in landing and take-off.

"(Before the One-Two-Go Fight OG029 accident), no plane had never skidded off the runway. This is the first time and we're not yet sure if the plane really skidded off as the investigation is underway," he noted.

He also insisted that emergency measures have been well-prepared in line with the standards imposed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

It was reported that a large number of passengers, foreign and local, are at the airport to check in like it was before the accident.

Most of them said they are undeterred by the accident and are confident with the safety standard at the airport. However, they said that they would stick to mainstream airlines.

On the way back to Bangkok, Praphan Sirikururat, 49, said he arrived in Phuket on Sunday. He is still confident in the safety standards at the airport, for landing and take-off. He is a regular customer of Thai Airways International.

- The Nation

nationmultimedia.com

[ade100]

I am delighted to see that someone is confident about the safety standards at Phuket airport. However, according to the BBC, the picture is not quite so rosy (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7000919.stm):

"Systems to check for a dangerous weather condition were faulty at the time of Sunday's devastating air crash at Phuket airport, Thai officials say.

Some of the airport's wind shear alert systems were not working properly, said aviation official Vutichai Singhamany.

Investigators have said wind shear - a sudden change in either wind speed or direction - was among the possible causes of the crash. "

[jumnien]

I like that "bring 'em on" attitude down south!

[LivinginKata]

It was reported in some media that the airport tower DID advise the pilot about wind shear probability. Anyone on the ground would no doubt have felt the wind shear, without the need for instruments. So pleeeeze don't jump on that band wagon

[Mid]

what band wagon ??

the thread is that the airport is 100% ready ........................

it ain't .

[ade100]

I agree that jumping on bandwagons is not to be recommended. I was simply offering an alternative point of view as expressed in a BBC article.

However I have to say that from a personal perspective I am a little concerned. I fly down to Singapore twice a month for work. We are always lead to believe that flying is the safest form of transport and any fear is irrational. But the message now is almost that with heavy rain and strong winds, air crashes are pretty much inevitable. Bad weather is not unknown in Phuket particularly during the rainy season. So what is the sensible, rational thing to do in this situation?

I have even been looking into getting to Singapore by land, but 5 hours on a coach followed by 12 hours on a train is not too appealing.

[donna]

i personally dont think that the airport should have been opened so soon either. surely they should be going over the runway with a fine toothed comb, as well as the surrounding areas?

with regards to ade100's point about being dangerous to fly.....well i was recently told by a TV member that if the plane aint a Boeing, it aint worth flying in! you can always check the kind of aircraft before flying, i guess?

after this disaster, i would assume (hope) that lightening doesnt strike twice, and that everyone now thinks its better to err on the side of caution.

whilst there is so much speculation over exactly what caused the accident, i can only come to the conclusion that it was a combination of the extreme weather at that time - the rain was nearly horizontal at my place, a plane which had been through too many hard landings (my own conclusion and not based on any expert opinion) and pilot mis-judgement.

[LivinginKata]

whilst there is so much speculation over exactly what caused the accident, i can only come to the conclusion that it was a combination of the extreme weather at that time - the rain was nearly horizontal at my place, a plane which had been through too many hard landings (my own conclusion and not based on any expert opinion) and pilot mis-judgement.

I cannot believe what I am reading. And now Donna is an avaiation expert. I am now speech-less.... Think that I will remain speech-less, better mai

[Mid]

And now Donna is an avaiation expert.

(my own conclusion and not based on any expert opinion)

a man sees what he wants to see ,

and disregards the rest

lie . lie , de lie ..............................

[donna]

if you actually read my post, livinginkata, you will see that i DID say: (my own conclusion and not based on any expert opinion).

i dont pretend to be an expert and have drawn my conclusion from what i have read and heard.

[Nignoy]

Come on People!! Is it up and running or isnt it??am flying in with Mrs Nignoy Tomorrow Night and seeing she only had Exploratory heart surgery last thursday!! I just dont fancy Haloing in to Patong with her under 1 arm and 2 suitcases full of Vegemite and Duty Free under the other Wouldnt mind Hahoing it in, but its not much for the Mrs if it is Raining Nignoy

[donna]

we already said it was up and running Nignoy. the airport re-opened on Monday early evening.

enjoy your holiday in the south! today looks like its gonna be a beautiful day too, so hopefully the next few days will be the same.

[geriatrickid]

with regards to ade100's point about being dangerous to fly.....well i was recently told by a TV member that if the plane aint a Boeing, it aint worth flying in! you can always check the kind of aircraft before flying, i guess?

after this disaster, i would assume (hope) that lightening doesnt strike twice, and that everyone now thinks its better to err on the side of caution.

Well Donna, you certainly are logical but you and I will be in the minority because;

1. Alot of tourists come in on packages that use the low cost carriers. Those folks will be unaware of what they are flying on.

2. Alot of people really are clueless or unsophisticated when it comes to flying. For the new type of tourists being wooed to Phuket, they won't know the difference. For former east bloc folks 1-2 Go will be luxury compared to the old Aeroflot. Most of the tourists from the middle east and other parts of Asia won't be paying attention either.

Hopefully, people won't wake up, otherwise we're going to have a hard time getting a seat on Thai and the increased demand will mean increased prices.

It will be like what happened in some US and EU destinations where there were slim pickings for acceptable air service options.