Thai minister:Some airlines afraid to use new airport
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Expect delays ot detour in using new Thai airport.
--www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/26/headlines/headlines_30025156.php
MINISTER ADMITS:Some airlines afraid to use new airportTheera says runway can be fixed without closing facility, while repairs force planes to circle overhead or land at U-Tapao
Incoming flights were delayed at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday as its west runway was closed for repairs for two hours, while the transport minister admitted some airlines were afraid to use the new airport due to safety concerns.
While inspecting cracks on taxiways Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen said: "This has started to affect the country's image and some airlines are afraid to use Suvarnabhumi due to safety fears."
Some flights had to circle the airport yesterday afternoon or land at U-Tapao military airfield in Chon Buri for refuelling and temporary parking.
A source from Thai Airways International said two of the airline's international flights were delayed by more than one hour.
"Flight TG 414 from Singapore should have landed at 5.05pm but it landed at 6.35pm. Meanwhile, the Tokyo-Manila-Bangkok Flight TG 621 landed at 6.45pm, two hours after its original landing schedule at 4.45pm," he said.
A passenger on a domestic Thai Airways flight from Hat Yai, which landed at U-Tapao, said he was on the plane for an hour before the flight could return to Suvarnabhumi.
"Before getting to Suvarnabhumi, I was informed that my plane could not land due to the traffic jam and the captain made a detour to U-Tapao. My plane was the first to get there and during the hour I saw four or five more planes land, one of them belonging to Thai AirAsia," he said.
Flight TG 240, another flight from Hat Yai, delayed its takeoff for 40 minutes and passengers were told they had to wait till Suvarnabhumi Airport was less congested. Its takeoff was delayed from 4.50pm until 5.30pm.
Somchai Sawasdeepon, Airports of Thailand (AoT) senior executive vice president and Suvarnabhumi director, said the west runway was closed for repairs from 2pm to 4pm. This coincided with Theera's inspection of cracks on the taxiways.
"The repairs had been scheduled. We informed all flights to stop over at U-Tapao where they could refill their tanks," Somchai said.
During his two-hour inspection accompanied by AoT chairman General Saprang Kalayanamitr, Theera admitted that 11 aero-bridges were sealed off due to subsidence on the taxiways.
In the first official admission of damage at the airport, Theera identified more than 100 points at 25 areas on taxiways and one point on the west runway where damage had occurred. Seven points on the taxiways had been repaired but subsidence had reoccurred after two weeks.
"Cracks have also been found at many other areas. This will affect travellers on planes that can not reach 11 aero-bridges, while the repairs have caused traffic jams," Theera said.
While admitting the airport needs swift repairs, Theera insisted that Suvarnabhumi would not be shut and Don Muang reopened.
Cracks in the main runway could be repaired without shutting it down because they had occurred at the head of the runway, allowing jets enough space to land if work was underway, he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemras also said yesterday he opposed shifting flights to Don Muang, saying this would inconvenience travellers.
Theera said engineers and technicians had been asked to find "temporary" ways to fix the cracks within the next few weeks. In the next two weeks, an investigation committee chaired by Tortrakul Yomnag will start examining the ground underneath the airport, which is located in an area known as Cobra Swamp.
The airport has been plagued by operational glitches and structural defects that have been blamed on the rushed manner in which it was built and opened, as well as the opaque way in which building contracts were awarded.
Besides cracks, there have been reports of leaks in the roof, faulty air-conditioning, poor drainage in the parking lots and complaints of a severe shortage of rest rooms.
Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um yesterday warned that 12 light-control boxes are inappropriately located: although they were built to handle temperatures of up to 40 degrees they were placed outside where the temperature can rise to 45 degrees. They could be damaged by the heat or catch fire, he said.
"These problems indicate massive corruption," Saprang said. "Someone needs to take responsibility."
Despite reports AoT president Chotisak Asapaviriya's job was on the line due to the airport's problems, his dismissal was not on the agenda of the agency's meeting yesterday.
Watcharapong Thongrung
The Nation
Taxiway No. 11 at Suvarnabhumi airport is now under repair after cracks were found on its surface. — KITJA APICHONROJAREK,26.10.2007 -
Evidence of Thaksin's corruption showing liao loh! Use cheap material is like that one lor...
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Sound more of poor management during the construction project.
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You might like to know that Thaksin has been at times unhappy with the slow progress of the construction which has been delayed by a few years.Originally posted by bigmouthjoe:Evidence of Thaksin's corruption showing liao loh! Use cheap material is like that one lor... -
this military-installed govt is useless....need a new coup to bring them down
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You are brainless dude. What has the military gahment go with the airport? Build long before their time man....Originally posted by PoRen:this military-installed govt is useless....need a new coup to bring them down
I think we need an assassin to kill you first.. -
Unhappy with slow progress not equals to no corruption right? Mr NKF also unhappy with many things...Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:You might like to know that Thaksin has been at times unhappy with the slow progress of the construction which has been delayed by a few years. -
Originally posted by lionnoisy:
A national Icon and Project.
Expect delays ot detour in using new Thai airport.
--www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/26/headlines/headlines_30025156.php
[b]MINISTER ADMITS:Some airlines afraid to use new airport
Taxiway No. 11 at Suvarnabhumi airport is now under repair after cracks were found on its surface. — KITJA APICHONROJAREK,26.10.2007[/b]
Why didn't ex-prime minister Taksink ensure the bloody airport is done with world standard?
I was at the said Airport. Design, workmanship, materials used, lightings....and etc. I don't know what word is to describe this airport!!!
I was almost tripped and fell for kicking onto uneven concrete pavement along CE drain near the Airport carparks.
If I was then prime minister..I'll send the whole consultants, project managers, project minister in charge for firing squad. -
I also heard the novotel hotel at the airport uses plywood doors. Think of how much money Mr Thaksin and his merry brothers have eat up... no wonder now can go around the world lah. I also want siah...
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Why would sg govt and tomasick befriend with someone who could not even handle an Airport Project which is also a National Icon of the Country?
Likewise, if the airport is like that. Imagine how he had ran the country?
The picking up of economy was a coincide with his power in hand!!! -
They run out of sand to repair new airport due to sand ban by Indonesia?
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Why all the pro thaksin people so quiet? Oei where you big talkers hiding?!?!? Come out from your holes.
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problems locations
2.cracks already found in 2005
and in 2006The Bangkok Post was threatened with a Bt1-billion lawsuit for reporting, in the wake of the CTX corruption scandal, that there was a crack on a runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
3.Dunt blame Thaksin too much for he is not the Almighty
who can change anythings.
This is the culture of corruptions to be blamed.
4.Old Thai proverbs shed light on airport fiasco--
Why can't they do one thing right at Suvarnabhumi Airport? In a way, the Suvarnabhumi Airport mirrors Thai society.
5.Bangkok's new airport denied safety certificate,
Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) decided Friday not to renew an international safety certificate for Bangkok's new airport in the latest setback for Thailand's brand new airport.
26.01.2007
6.Is it a must to international stansard?Last year( 2003)ICAO, responsible for the safety in global air operations, stipulated that all international airports should be certified to ensure provision of safe and adequate aerodrome facilities as mandated in ICAO convention. Conforming to the ICAO regulations, the GCAA, the regulator for UAE, established a licensing programme for airports in the UAE to ensure highest level of safety for the travelling public and airlines.
7.SUVARNABHUMI
Airport to get certified, but for what? -
Culture of corruption by who? What happen to the CTX scanners? You seem to miss out on that information leh...
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The answer. Thaksin. But it's good that Singapore has such a good friend like him lah, I also want. Billionaire leh.
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Let thaksin stand for elections........he will still win.
the poor loves him.........it's the corrupted Bangkok mixed blood types that hate him.....fair skinned Chinese-Thais hybrids that cannot speak Chinese..... -
Originally posted by lionnoisy:
Taksink intiated the advancement of ''so called'' the largest Airport in SEA. Given with the absolute power being as a prime minister, he couldn't even control an Airport development...what else can he do?
[b]problems locations
2.cracks already found in 2005
and in 2006
7.[b][url=http://www.aviation.go.th/webboard/question.asp?QID=721]SUVARNABHUMI
Airport to get certified, but for what?[/b]
A shame that sg govt befriended with this crab!!! -
so.....
changi airport is still the best in this region..... -
CORRUPTION. I smell corruption in the Thaksin era...
What's wrong with getting rid of a PM that's getting very powerful through corruption?
Ok, besides the point, anyone ever wonder where our reserves are kept.. -
As the usual rule for TS's thread, +1.
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Tambah Satu.Originally posted by Hogzilla:As the usual rule for TS's thread, +1.
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They're moving domestic flights back to the old airport
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Yeah. Everybody's thanking Thaksin for it. You should too.
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It's not Thaksin........it's because of the bad Karma of Bangkok people for revolting against the elected government
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You are the biggest piece of brainless meat in the world. I can also say you are bad karma for bad things that human being do lah?Originally posted by Dr Who:It's not Thaksin........it's because of the bad Karma of Bangkok people for revolting against the elected government
So NKF's problems is because they try to help those with kidney problems? Please lah use your brain (if you have any), the problem is Mr Durai ok?
STUPID ASS -----> Dr Who