Brand new P1.4-B aircraft under repair

From the Manila Times (Jun 19): Brand new P1.4-B aircraft under repair

A P1.4-billion brand new aircraft bought by the Philippine Air Force in Spain is undergoing thorough safety check after an engine display light malfunctioned, causing a delay a scheduled maiden flight in Legazpi City.

The newly purchased medium lift aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, Spain made C295 was scheduled to land in at 8:00 in the morning Tactical Operations Group 5-Philippine Air Force but cancelled the flight due to fine tuning check.

Lt. Col. Luisito Angeles, TOG5 commanding officer, invited media practitioners to witness the maiden flight of one of the first three brand new aircrafts but later had to cancel the activity.

The newly acquired C-295 medium lift fixed-wing aircraft can bring 70 passengers, 50 paratroops, 24 stretchers with 5 to 7 attendants or up to about 20,000 pounds of cargo.

The Philippine Air Force C-295 will enhance the capability of the PAF in providing airlift requirements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations

Angeles said the C295 fleet is a multipurpose medium lift transport Aircraft. “The public is invited to witness this momentous event,” Angeles said.

The Aquino administration is modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines wherein the Department of National Defense (DND) entered into a contract on Dec. 23, 2013 with the joint venture of Rice Aircraft Services, Inc. and Eagle Copters, Ltd. for the acquisition of 21 UH-1 Huey helicopters, “including integrated logistics support or spare parts.

However, the P1.21 billion worth of UH-1H helicopters found defective and undergoing probe before the House of Representatives. The contract was approved by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in 2013.

http://www.manilatimes.net/brand-new-p1-4-b-aircraft-under-repair/193329/