Two Runways for Mactan-Cebu Airport? Space Constraints Ahead

Two Runways for Cebu-Mactan Airport (MCIA) – The Household of Reps on April 3, 2019, permitted on 2nd reading through a monthly bill that seeks to offer for the development of a next runway at the Mactan-Cebu Global Airport (MCIA) in Lapu-Lapu Metropolis, Cebu.

The political voices

Politicians say the MCIA warrants a next runway, as it is serving just one of the quickest rising metropolises in the place. Metro Cebu is viewed as the 2nd premier city centre of the Philippines and a single which is internationally known and recognised.

One rule of thumb is that a single runway can cater to passenger site visitors of all around 15 million passengers for every year. This most is achievable in particular if the flights can evenly be smothered out about the 24-hour period in a working day. Contemplating all the flight actions, domestic and intercontinental industrial flights, jointly with general aviation and army plane movements, the runway ability at MCIA could only be sufficient till 2024.

Underneath the monthly bill, the DOTr, in coordination with the MCIAA, will finance and carry out the feasibility scientific tests and the formulation of the comprehensive engineering designs, standards and specifications of the proposed runway, as very well as the concomitant access taxiways and swift exit taxiways, runway lights programs, navigational/landing tools and other appurtenances as could be vital for the powerful implementation of the Act.

The economical voices

The MCIAA has hired consultants for the style and design and construction of a 2nd runway which currently has funding of PHP 2.5 billion.

The MCIAA does not have to ask for for the sum simply because they have now allotted cash for the next runway. There is also a proposal from GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) to construct a third runway in Barangay Ibo.

If Congress wants to allocate money for the second runway, that will replenish our PHP 2.5 billion funds already allocated for it. The funds came from the PHP 14.4 billion paid by GMCAC as element of the 25-12 months concession to work the airport terminal.

The Intercontinental Regulations

Based on ICAO doc9157 Aerodrome Design Manuel Portion1 Runway, the minimum amount length involving centre traces of 2 parallel( or around-parallel ) runways is

For Visible Meteorological Disorders (VMC) procedure:

• 210m for category 3( runway length=1200m-1800m ) and classification 4( runway length>1800m )
• 150m for classification 2( runway length=800m-1200m )
• 120m for category 1( runway size<800m )

And for Instrument flight Condition (IMC) operation:

• 1035m for independent parallel approaches ( radar separation minima between aircraft and adjacent centre line is not prescribed)
• 915m for independent parallel approaches ( radar separation minima between aircraft and adjacent centre line is prescribed)
• 760m for independent parallel departures or Segregated parallel operations (one exclusive for departure and another for landing)

When two runways are closer than the regulations above, only one can be “operated” at the same time (eg: LGW). Even though only one of the parallel runway would be operated at the same time, the separation of the runway have to follow the “Runway strip rule”, which is 75m each side from the centre lines for category 3/4.

Therefore minimum distance of two parallel runways is the sum of the strips, ie: minimum distance of two parallel 4E/F runways is 75+75=150m from their centre lines.

The above is global standard which represents the minimum requirement of runway , other aviation authorities such as FAA in US may have stricter standard.

Let’s visualise: Two Runways for Mactan-Cebu Airport

Following above ICAO regulations the future Mactan-Cebu Airport would look as this:

The 210 minimum solution working only for visual approach

The minimal 210 m separation solutions could both be built. But they would only work under Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). This is an absolute “no go” for an international commercial airport.

The 760 m alternate solution needs more space

All landings on one runway and all take-offs on the other one. Both solutions (left and right) would cost big money because of indemnification and relocation.

The 1035 m maximum solution

The distance of 1035 meters between the runways allows fully independent operation. The 22R runway would remove the Mactan golf club and barangay Ibo. This barangay is mostly industrial and rather easy to relocate. The existing terminal buildings could be transformed. Maybe the Waterfront hotel would become even more an “Airport Hotel”.

We are curious to learn, which solution will be proposed.

Hong Kong’s International Airport with 2 parallel runways

Maybe we should ask the Chinese not to fill up our Spratly islands, but enlarge Olango island.