The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) has grounded the entire operations of aircraft operator Woodland Airpark following the crash of an ultralight aircraft in Concepcion, Tarlac, on Saturday, leading to two fatalities. Caap Director General Retired Lt. Gen. Raul Del Rosario said in a statement on Saturday that Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez likewise ordered the immediate conduct of a safety and operations audit for Woodland Airpark.
Rosario said the directive aims ‘to assess the airworthiness of the aircraft and the operator’s compliance with aviation safety standards.’
According to Caap, under the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations, ultralight aircraft fall under the category of Non-Certificated Type Aircraft, signifying that they are authorized solely for recreational purposes.
‘The aircraft is restricted to operate within its designated Flying Club Aerodrome, limited to a maximum altitude of 800 feet and must be conducted strictly under Visual Flight Rules conditions,’ the aviation authority pointed out.
Caap said it will take appropriate action against any individual or organization that would be found to have violated existing aviation safety laws and operational guidelines. Based on an earlier police report, the two individuals who died from the ultralight aircraft crash were identified as a male pilot (19 years old) and a female passenger (18 years old). Both were residents of Pampanga.
The investigation into the cause of the plane crash is ongoing