AW-109 crew still on training while searching for missing Malaysian plane

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 14): AW-109 crew still on training while searching for missing Malaysian plane

While helping with the search of the missing Malaysia Airlines plane, the pilots and flight crew of the Agusta Westland AW-109 "Power" helicopter are still conducting flight deck landings to increase shipboard proficiency.

Navy spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency Thursday, said "they (pilots and flight crews) are still conducting flight deck landings and training even if they are helping in the search of the missing Malaysian aircraft," he added.

The helicopter embarked from the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15).

Fabic declined to comment on where the exact location of the Filipino frigate is but stated it is somewhere along the West Philippine Sea.

The PN spokesperson said having these training will greatly increase the handling and landing proficiency of the flight crews.

He added that the ship and the AW-109 has been helping in the search since March 9.

The latter aircraft was delivered and commissioned last December.

The AW-109 is expected to make its first shipboard deployment by the end of March.

Fabic said that this is the first time that BRP Gregorio Del Pilar worked with the AW-109 which it is assigned helicopter.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=625380