airport tackles dry run, bird flu

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    Airport tackles dry run, bird flu 

By Vito Barcelo 

Airport authorities have their hands full with a new terminal set to open, a dry run to iron out kinks in the passenger flow on top of a renewed drive against avian flu. 

At least 150 employees have been asked to do a simulation exercise by the Manila International Airport Authority at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal-3 which was undergoing finishing touches. 

The Naia-3 is expected to kick off in the first quarter even as the government admitted that it needed $5 million to finish the facility. 

Airport general manager Alfonso Cusi said the contractor Takenaka was rushing up work on the ceiling, road links, security and communications systems. 

Meanwhile, the surge of poultry flu cases in certain countries has prompted officials to have passengers go through a check routine using a sophisticated forward-looking infrared. 

�From the previous practice of thermal screening of arriving passengers with recorded avian flu, all [now] have to undergo screening [by] medical staff from the Bureau of Quarantine,� said Cusi, adding that the routine would cover airline crewmembers. 

Three scanners and two thermal cameras were recently added to the existing equipment of the Naia-1 and 2. 

For full measure, he said a �foot bath� at the arrival area was included to disinfect suspected carriers of the deadly virus even as the airport authorities had to mind the scheduled opening of Naia-3. 

�Among the scenarios conducted were international arrival with connecting flights to domestic,� Cusi said, noting that they had to trace the passenger movement through the various stages of processing and checking including redundant security measures. 

�The stimulation exercise will not only focus on passenger flow but to test if the existing signage are sufficient to guide the passengers in their respective counters, departure and arrival counters and check-in counters,� he said, in time for �our rolling opening, hopefully in the first quarter of the year.� 

World health statistics have placed bird flu deaths at 161 in Indonesia out of 256 reported cases. 

�Although there is no human-to-human transmission... preventive measures are still necessary with the start of the annual migration of birds to the country,� Cusi said.

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: airport tackles dry run, bird flu Posted: January 25 2007 at 4:18pm
	Airport tackles dry run, bird flu By Vito Barcelo Airport authorities have their hands full with a new terminal set to open, a dry run to iron out kinks in the passenger flow on top of a renewed drive against avian flu. At least 150 employees have been asked to do a simulation exercise by the Manila International Airport Authority at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal-3 which was undergoing finishing touches. The Naia-3 is expected to kick off in the first quarter even as the government admitted that it needed $5 million to finish the facility. Airport general manager Alfonso Cusi said the contractor Takenaka was rushing up work on the ceiling, road links, security and communications systems. Meanwhile, the surge of poultry flu cases in certain countries has prompted officials to have passengers go through a check routine using a sophisticated forward-looking infrared. �From the previous practice of thermal screening of arriving passengers with recorded avian flu, all [now] have to undergo screening [by] medical staff from the Bureau of Quarantine,� said Cusi, adding that the routine would cover airline crewmembers. Three scanners and two thermal cameras were recently added to the existing equipment of the Naia-1 and 2. For full measure, he said a �foot bath� at the arrival area was included to disinfect suspected carriers of the deadly virus even as the airport authorities had to mind the scheduled opening of Naia-3. �Among the scenarios conducted were international arrival with connecting flights to domestic,� Cusi said, noting that they had to trace the passenger movement through the various stages of processing and checking including redundant security measures. �The stimulation exercise will not only focus on passenger flow but to test if the existing signage are sufficient to guide the passengers in their respective counters, departure and arrival counters and check-in counters,� he said, in time for �our rolling opening, hopefully in the first quarter of the year.� World health statistics have placed bird flu deaths at 161 in Indonesia out of 256 reported cases. �Although there is no human-to-human transmission... preventive measures are still necessary with the start of the annual migration of birds to the country,� Cusi said.