What Do NAIA’s Yellow and Red Lightning Alerts Mean?
Keep informed about potential flight delays.
(SPOT.ph) Supertyphoon Mawar is now closing in on the Philippines after wreaking havoc in Guam this week. Unfortunately, it’s arriving just in time for the weekend, when numerous flights are scheduled to take off from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
If you’re keeping an eye on NAIA’s official channels for flight updates, it’s likely that you’ll come across Lightning Alerts from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Ground Operations and Safety Division (AGOSD).
In cases where necessary, the MIAA AGOSD will issue either a Yellow or Red Lightning Alert in response to severe weather conditions and the presence of lightning strikes. This precautionary measure has been in place since 2012.
“We kindly ask for the cooperation and understanding of every passenger when ramp operations are suspended for safety reasons during a Lightning Red Alert,” MIAA Officer-in-Charge Bryan Co said in a statement. “While aircraft at NAIA are protected from lightning strikes through the presence of lightning arresters, these alerts primarily prioritize the safety of people on the ground, which is of paramount importance for us as an airport operator.”
Also read: Be Prepared: Mawar Reintensifies Into a Supertyphoon
NAIA Lightning Alerts to watch out for
Airports employ various lightning detection systems to monitor potential lightning strikes in the vicinity. When lightning is detected near NAIA, warning systems are activated to alert personnel on the ground and in control towers.
NAIA passengers are then informed through the terminal paging systems and lightning advisories are posted on the official NAIA Facebook page.
In 2022, a total of 439 combined Lightning Red and Yellow Alerts were issued.
Red Lightning Alert
During a Lightning Red Alert, flight and ground operations at the NAIA are temporarily suspended. The alert is a safety measure taken to prevent untoward incidents that could endanger personnel, passengers, and even flight operations.
Of the 439 Lightning Alerts in 2022, there was an average duration of one hour and two minutes for a Lightning Red Alert status before it was lowered to a Lightning Yellow Alert.
Yellow Lightning Alert
MIAA AGOSD will lower the Red Alert to Yellow Alert once it has become safe to resume normal flight operations. Basically, this entails that a Lightning Red Alert happens first.
The timing for this transition varies, as NAIA follows a safety wait time to ensure a sufficient period without detected lightning activity. This leaves a little breathing room to make sure everything is safe before getting back to business.
Also read: The SPOT.ph Guide to What to Do Before, During, and After a Typhoon