Real World Aviation changes in Panama

While the site of Civil Aeronautics in Panama is still way behind compared to that of other latinamerican countries (such as Colombia), it has improved quite a lot.

However, this post is about interesting changes in Panamanian aviation. The government is investing $200 million (dollars) in upgrading the aviation infrastructure. Some interesting changes off the top of my mind are:

• Ongoing expansion of Tocumen (MPTO) to include new terminals. The old runway 31L has already been habilitated for passenger planes (formerly only cargo).
• Remodelation work at Marcos A. Gelabert (MPMG), in particular the taxiways.
• The airfield of Chame has gotten lights.
• The Augusto Valderrama airfield in Guararé has been repaved, has portable lights and the small terminal building remodeled.
• The Pedasí airport is still under construction as it has been moved more inland.
• The Ruben Cantu airport’s runway in Santiago, Veraguas will have 300 more meters of runway and its VOR (STG) is being replaced in March 2011 for a brand new VOR-DME. Yes, finally DME capabilities.
• The Enrique Jimenez airport (MPEJ) in Colon is going to be remodelled.
• The Enrique Malek airport (MPDA) in David, Chiriquí is getting a new runway and expanded terminal facilities for larger planes.
• The Rio Hato (MPRH) airport in Rio Hato, Coclé will become another international airport. A tunnel will be built underneath the airport as the Panamerican Highway has always cut this airport in two (even when it was an American military base).
• The Bocas del Toro, Contadora Island and Chitré airports have had night lights for some time already, therefore making it possible to conduct night operations when necessary (not normally).
• The airfield at El Rey island on the Pearls Archipelago was renovated last year but I haven’t seen any update on the news.

I guess I will be very busy updating my project that contains better representations of Panamanian airfields.