The Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation (Corpac) changed its stance and says it will overhaul the entire air traffic control sector in Peru. The entity announced that, as part of the reforms it will implement, it will proceed to completely reorganize its Center for Civil Aviation Instruction (CIAC). For 50 years, this center has been responsible for training and developing personnel for the airport and navigation services that Corpac provides nationwide. Among other tasks, it is responsible for training and educating new air traffic controllers.
This comes after the accident of flight 2231 from LATAM Peru, in which, on November 18, 2022, an Airbus A320neo and a vehicle from the firefighting and rescue service (SSEI) collided at Jorge Chávez Airport in Lima. Three firefighters died in the incident, with no casualties on the aircraft. The final report, published about two months ago, concluded that one of the causes was the lack of proper training for the personnel.
See also: Investigation reveals causes of LATAM Flight 2213 accident in Peru
Corpac, which manages 15 terminals in Peru, had initially denied the accident’s findings, stating that the responsibility lay solely with the SSEI members.
Comunicado pic.twitter.com/HvA2rGrD58
— CORPAC S.A. OFICIAL (@CORPACOFICIAL) November 18, 2023
However, the entity has been holding meetings with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Corporation requested technical assistance for a comprehensive reform of CIAC. Corpac stated that the discussions are «quite advanced,» and it only awaits ICAO’s final proposal to sign the agreement. The goal is for the instruction center to obtain ICAO’s international certification, to achieve better preparation for air traffic controllers. The company believes this will lead to the graduation of new controllers, reducing the personnel deficit.
Finally, as part of the ongoing reforms, Corpac announced that it has separated from the group of instructors, the controllers, and supervisors who were present in the control tower at Jorge Chávez International Airport when the accident occurred.
