CAAP lifts air travel warning following China’s successful rocket launch

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Sunday said it has lifted the notice to airmen (NOTAM) it issued in anticipation of China's rocket launch on Hainan Island.

CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio told radio dzBB that the NOTAM was immediately lifted after Chia's successful rocket launch.

Since naging successful naman ang pag-launch ng rocket at wala namang naapektuhan, kinansela na ang NOTAM, ayon kay Apolonio.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 25, 2016

The CAAP issued the NOTAM for the period of 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday due to the rocket launch.

The NOTAM covered 250 kilometers west of Manila Bay to 430 km west of Lingayen gulf.

Apolonio clarified that the NOTAM was issued for the safety of the public.

China launched its "Long March-7" new generation carrier rocket on a successful inaugural voyage Saturday from a new launch center on Hainan Island.

The medium-sized, two-stage rocket is expected to become the main carrier for China's future space missions.

It can carry up to 13.5 tons to low-Earth orbit -- a payload one and a half times greater than those of China's existing rockets. —ALG, GMA News