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Power outage at Tocumen Airport last night

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Oldcameraman
  3/25/2015 08:39 EST

I was at Tocumen to pick up friends returning from the States last night. The lights went out at shortly after 6:00. There were the small emergency lights on in the area I was waiting and some of the ceiling fluorescents came on for a while. After about half and hour all of the lights went off. Lights came on gradually over an hour later in stages throughout the terminal. I counted 12 flights that were all landing within 1/2 hour of each other once the arrival TV's got going again so maybe they stacked up the flights waiting for power to be restored.

I was astounded that an airport that size wouldn't have a running emergency backup system. This morning I did an internet search and found that this was not an uncommon problem with airport terminals. In November 2014, power was off in all three terminals of BWI (Boston Washington International) apparently for a much longer time. A major airport in Britain was off for days last year and emergency generators had to be brought in by an outside company to supply power for about 3 days until the problem was corrected.

I was very surprised to learn about this thinking about the potential for disaster since most aircraft these days carry only a small amount of extra fuel (to save weight). Where would these planes land if power didn't come on within a short time? I suppose Rio Hato would be the answer, right?

Antokim
  3/25/2015 09:06 EST

We were there for a power outage last year when we were checking in for a morning flight. The outage lasted well over an hour and grounded everything in or out. Our flight left two hours late.

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llseldon
  3/25/2015 10:29 EST

About 15 flights landed at Howard, more later from my home PC. PL

llseldon
  3/25/2015 12:00 EST

Lots of power outages in PTY, I was there one visit staying in the old Costa del Sol on Vía España on the had a power one day when I was on the 10th floor where the pool & restaurant was doing my laundry on the 9th floor. When I asked how many power failures the desk clerk said many & one time a lady was in the elevator & screamed the whole time until the power was restored. BTW & FYI the airport Is suppose to have back up power at least for ATC & the plane should have been able to land whether they are at PTY or BWI (Baltimore/Washington Int'l) or UK airports.

panamajames
  3/25/2015 13:28 EST

We landed at Howard Air Force Base a few days ago from a Viva Colombia flight. Lots of air strips available in Panama. Noriega needed them when he was running drugs.........

Oldcameraman
  3/25/2015 14:00 EST

Thanks to llseldon for the info. Back up instant switch-on systems would seem to be an absolute minimum for any moderate size airport especially if receiving international flights. The problem would definitely be further down the pipeline = people needing to be processed by immigration and customs. From what I could see, all power in those areas was off too. That would really screw up processing passengers. Imagine if it were you, getting off a plane and then having to stand there in the dark, not knowing where to go. Because the secure passenger areas were totally dark too from what I could see from the 3rd floor. Anyway, I was glad that the power came on in only an hour and I was able to pick up my friends and continue home. Imagine what it must have been like though in BWI and that major UK airport - without full power for 3 days !

When I googled "power outages in airport terminals" I was astounded by how often this happens. Here's a sampling:

Toronto
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/02/28/power-temporarily-knocked-out-to-pearson-airport-north-etobicoke.html

http://www.nottinghampost.com/East-Midlands-Airport-power-failure-Hundreds/story-26098910-detail/story.html

England
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-30579392

Australia
http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/terminal-2-at-sydneys-domestic-airport-shutdown-after-power-outage/story-e6frfq80-1226968561094

USA : Dulles
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/03/power-outtages-hit-dulles-airport-saturday--112309.html

And the list goes on.

Just thinking if terrorists wanted to really mess things up, how fragile and technology-sensitive our modern life has become.

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tharin4prez
  3/25/2015 15:08 EST

PJ ... you weren't inferring Howard was one of those Noriega runways?

tharin4prez
  3/25/2015 15:10 EST

Oldcameraman ...

My wife and I were delayed at the Dulles outage on our way back down to Panama. Copa delayed a little over two hours because of it! At least they made up for it by over pouring my in-flight drinks .. Hick :)

kvirgil2004
  3/25/2015 15:41 EST

Noriega may have used them, but most were built by the United States military.

llseldon
  3/25/2015 15:41 EST

From the internet news, as some one mentioned, this should never happen for security & I imagine in the U.S. FAA regularization FAR Part 39 requires backup power, I'm sure at least for ATC facilities & TSA for security?:

Blackout At Tocumen Diverts 15 Flights

AT LEAST 15 incoming flights were diverted from Tocumen International Airport on Tuesday Evening, March 24, when a fault in the electrical system left the “hub of the Americas” without lights. Outgoing flights were delayed for 90 minutes

The flights were diverted to the airport in Howard, in Panama Pacifico, which will be the arrival point for heads of state attending the Summit of the Americas on April 10-11.
Over 5,000 delegates, officials and journalists heading for the Summit at Atlapa, will be arriving at Tocumen.
Joseph Fidanque III, general manager of the airport told TVN News that a new computer handling switch gear for changing an electrical substation did not react well to a power fluctuation.
He apologized for the outage said that not only all electrical systems will be reviewed but also communications equipment and fiber, optics that are all between 15 and 20 years old.

panamajames
  3/25/2015 16:07 EST

No, just a mention that there are a number of runways around Panama that were built by Noriega. Howard Air Force Base was not one of them.

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llseldon
  3/25/2015 16:43 EST

PanamaJames. Did you say you landed at Howard when you returned from SA?

llseldon
  3/25/2015 16:59 EST

There were many airstrips built in PTY, C&SA during WWII by the AAC, best ones you know are David & Rio Hato. PL

llseldon
  3/25/2015 20:55 EST

What runways were built by Noriega, I don't know of any?

You said prior "I landed at Howard Air Force Base several days ago ---"?

llseldon
  3/26/2015 08:32 EST

panamajames, here's your comment where you said you landed at Howard on a Viva Colombia flight, do any airlines use Howard now? "We landed at Howard Air Force Base a few days ago from a Viva Colombia flight. Lots of air strips available in Panama. Noriega needed them when he was running drugs........." Remember the Howard annual airshow, I was there one year during it but didn't dare go because of the traffic, hear it is ---- getting out after the show. PL

llseldon
  3/26/2015 09:01 EST

"delayed at the Dulles---" is that when they had the computer glitch?

tharin4prez
  3/26/2015 09:12 EST

There are no other commercial schedules in/out of Howard. There are however a few cargo, logistic & private flight companies that now operate out of there ...
Though Howard is also used for PTY and Torrijos overflow/emergency landings.

llseldon
  3/26/2015 09:15 EST

"There are no other commercial schedules in/out of Howard" that what I thought except for a divert field for Tocumen like when the power outage occurred.

Rik61Penonome
  3/26/2015 10:16 EST

Viva Colombia.... a low cost airline is the 1st commercial passenger service and operates from Howard / Panama Pacifico.

https://www.thevisitorpanama.com/2014/07/cheap-flights-to-colombia-from-howard/

Rik

tharin4prez
  3/26/2015 11:15 EST

Thanks Rik.
I knew that one was coming ... but haven't visited Howard for almost a year now. Too depressing since I once lived there

llseldon
  3/26/2015 11:34 EST

Remember "you get what you pay for", you don't want to be flown into the Alps by a disgruntled FO who MAY have thought he was paid enough or crashed because the company couldn't afford to maintain the airplane properly. Think about it.

TennVol
  3/27/2015 11:57 EST

I remember seeing Noriega board his LAST flight from Howard AFB! He had a couple of fellows helping him walk up the ramp of the C-130...
:)

tharin4prez
  3/27/2015 13:35 EST

TennVol ... We're you part of the 6th?
Me and 4 or 5 other guys watched that same walk of shame from the Blackhawk to the 130's ramp from the roof of the cargo terminal

panamajames
  3/27/2015 15:07 EST

Yes, apparently all flights on Viva Colombia that come to Panama from Colombia, are landing at Howard Air Force Base. Much closer to Albrook and the cabs are waiting in full force for every flight

TennVol
  3/27/2015 16:20 EST

tharin4prez - In Jan 90 I was TDY supporting the CBPO as a part of a PERSCO team from Charleston AFB. I was later assigned to Howard from Jun 90 - Jun 94 and again from Dec 97 to Sep 99.

tharin4prez
  3/27/2015 18:30 EST

I was also TDY from charleston for JUST CAUSE. Got there about 18 hrs before the invasion started, and went back to Chuck Town in April or so.
Was part of the 6th APS in 1988, JUST CAUSE, and then back from late 1990-1992. Sadly I was never able to get another tour before everything closed. I'm sure somewhere along the line we crossed paths. I was just kicking back and having a few cold Atlas beers last week with someone that worked in the post office from that time period ... And most of the conversation gravitated to the spicy chicken from the clubs outside patio. Never realized how much I missed that stuff ...

TennVol
  3/30/2015 10:56 EST

I too have fond memories of the Breazeway (AKA Sleazeway!) I never had to even leave the CBPO bldg to eat (or gamble) when it was pouring rain!

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