Gaybutton Posted November 18, 2006 Posted November 18, 2006 The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Airport Not Fit to Open 'Officially' for Six Months Committee Says Suvarnabhumi Still has Far too Many Issues Involving Safety and Noise By Post reporters A panel overseeing the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport has found the facility unfit for an official opening, recommending it be put off for six months. Chalit Phukphasuk, the committee chairman and air force chief, said safety and noise prompted the panel to urge delaying the airport's inauguration, which was expected this month. The committee, appointed by the Council for National Security (CNS), wrapped up its work on Friday. ''There is a load of problems to be fixed. The airport will not be ready for the official opening for six months,'' he said. ''Since His Majesty the King will preside over the opening, it is imperative that everything is ready.'' Suvarnabhumi airport's modern and stylish design has been eclipsed by problems since the Sept 28 opening to commercial flights, he said. Long waits for luggage, hold-ups at check-in counters, roof leaks and inadequate toilets highlighted the early days of operations. Weeks later, uneven and cracked taxiways and parking bays were found at the airport. Current issues include sexual harassment of female staff by men who work for outside contractors and noise pollution. The airport's plan to close one of its two runways for four hours every night is raising suspicion it has something to do with cracks on aircraft taxiways and parking bays. ACM Chalit said noise problems are being attended to. Solutions include changing flying techniques for approaching aircraft and reallocating flight times. He said Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT), which manages the airport, has also been told to improve safety measures before the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) inspects the airport in June next year. The airport requires an aerodrome certificate from ICAO to permanently operate. It currently has an interim certificate from the Aviation Department. ACM Chalit said he has reported the findings to CNS chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen. An official report on airport operations since opening on Sept 28, including an overview of problems, will be submitted later, he said. ACM Chalit said the meeting on Friday was the committee's last. The panel was set up after the Sept 19 coup amid calls for the opening to be put off until it was declared fit for operations. Suvarnabhumi airport, a much-touted project of the deposed Thaksin administration, is plagued with corruption scandals, some being investigated by the Assets Scrutiny Committee. A newly-appointed AoT board, with assistant army chief Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr as a member and potential chairman, is seen as a CNS attempt to expose graft at the new airport. Other alleged irregularities involve selection of duty-free shops and food stalls, bids for trolley procurement and the construction of car park buildings. Issarapan Sanitwong na Ayudhya, national deputy police chief, yesterday said sexual harassment at the facility had been confirmed. He said Chokechai Panyayong, THAI vice-president for ground services, said female staff were harassed, but had not filed complaints with police investigators. Pol Gen Issarapan, however, said no complaints of rape or other violent crimes at the airport were lodged with police. Quote
