Mayon flight limits extended

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has again extended its Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting flights near Mayon Volcano in Albay province, citing the volcano’s continued low-level unrest.

In its latest advisory issued Friday, CAAP announced the flight restriction will be in effect from 7:15 a.m. 12 December until 9 a.m. 13 December, covering airspace from the surface up to 11,000 feet.

Flight operators are advised to avoid flying close to the volcano, which remains under Alert Level 1. The Alert Level 1 status, issued by the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), indicates low-level unrest.

The aviation authority had previously extended a separate NOTAM on Thursday, which was effective from 9:12 a.m. 11 December to 9 a.m. 12 December.

Phivolcs’ latest 24-hour bulletin on 12 December recorded 17 rockfall events and moderate plumes drifting southwest. The agency also noted that Mayon’s volcanic edifice remains inflated.

Meanwhile, the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council issued an advisory Wednesday, 10 December, following Phivolcs’ observations indicating the presence of new and shallow magma within the volcano.

The advisory strictly reiterated the prohibition of any human activity inside the six-kilometer permanent danger zone, including mountain climbing, ATV riding, orchid picking and vegetable harvesting. Visitors at the Mayon Skyline hotel are also prohibited during nighttime hours.