LINGAYEN—A top official of the provincial government belied reports that the Lingayen airport is affected by the so-called crosswind from the Lingayen Gulf, supposedly making plane takeoffs and landings risky.

Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan dismissed the belief saying that up to 10 trainer planes are landing at the Lingayen airstrip daily.

“That only goes to show that the technical problem (about the crosswind) they are talking about is non-existent”, he said.

Baraan said if crosswind is really a factor affecting aviation, “then how come pilots of these trainer planes still come and land in the Lingayen airport.”

The Lingayen Airport was built by the allied troops when they came to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese.

“I am sure that when the Americans built that airport, they’ve studied the technical aspect very carefully,” he said.
Baraan said the Air Transportation Office (ATO) has listed the Lingayen airstrip as one of the regional airports with three assigned frequencies. (PNA)