C-295: First brand-new transport aircraft acquired by PHL in almost 40 years

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 29): C-295: First brand-new transport aircraft acquired by PHL in almost 40 years

For the first time in almost 40 years, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be formally accepting into service a brand-new, purposely-built transport aircraft Monday.

This is the Airbus Military C-295 medium lift transport aircraft which arrived in the country last March 22.

PAF spokesperson Lt. Col. Enrico Canaya said that the aircraft will be formally handed over to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and 220th Airlift Wing commander Brig. Gen. Jose Mirandilla by Airbus Military representatives.

The ceremonies include handover of all pertinent aircraft documents which include the maintenance and operating manual.

Canaya said that the last time the PAF acquired brand-new transport planes was in the 1980s when it acquired three Fokker F-27 "Friendship" aircraft from the Netherlands.

"The additional C-295s will enhance the overall capability of the PAF in providing airlift requirements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations," he added.

Lift requirements of the PAF is presently being carried out by three Lockheed C-130 "Hercules" and three F-27s.

The PAF has an existing order for three C-295s at Airbus Military.

The contract, worth PhP5.29 billion, was signed last year.

Training for the first batch composed of four PAF pilots and 24 maintenance crew was done in Seville, Spain and was completed last March 10.

"Succeeding training for pilots will continue this year in anticipation of the delivery of two more C-295s," Canaya said.

The first C-295 arrived at the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga in the afternoon of March 22.

Its arrival was five months earlier than the scheduled August delivery date.

Canaya said the C-295 is categorized as medium lift aircraft equivalent to the Fokker F-27 aircraft being maintained by the 220th Airlift Wing. The C-295s have rear ramp door similar to that of the C-130s for easier access and loading/unloading of passengers and cargoes.

"Thus, it can augment in the type missions performed by the C-130s for lesser payload requirements," the PAF spokesperson said.

He added that the C-295s can carry as much as 71 passengers, 50 paratroops, 24 stretchers with five to seven attendants or up to about 20,000 pounds of cargoes.

It is capable of short field landing and takeoff.

"The two other C-295 are expected in 2016 but earlier delivery is a possibility," Canaya said.

Canaya said the aircraft departed last March 16 from Seville, Spain where it was assembled.

It was flown into the country by civilian pilots and crew of Airbus Military.

Airbus won the Department of National Defense medium lift aircraft program by tendering a bid for PhP5.29-billion for three aircraft last year.

This is considerably lower than the PhP5.3-billion stipulated in the contract.

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