From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 14):
UH-ID flight aimed at disproving claims that aircraft is defective
The decision to fly selected media personnel aboard the
UH-ID "Huey" combat utility helicopters was aimed at disproving
allegations that the aircraft are not airworthy and mission capable.
This was stressed by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin
Tuesday morning.
Seven UH-IDs, two UH-IHs along with their pilots and crew
were deployed to Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon
City to disapprove allegations that the aircraft is
defective.
Selected members of the media were flown aboard a UH-ID and
UH-IH which took off from Camp Aguinaldo at 11:07 a.m. and made a short flight to San Mateo, Rizal.
The aircraft and its passengers arrived at the military base
at 11:46 a.m. safe and sound.
"(The flight demonstration and briefing) aims to
correct allegations coming out in the media (that the UH-IDs) are defective and
not flyable. We thought it prudent to bring the helicopters here and let the
media know about their capabilities and difference from the UH-IHs,"
Gazmin said in Filipino.
He added that UH-IDs are very safe and capable as he was
able to fly it many times without encountering any untoward incident.
The Defense chief also denied claims that he and other
officials were asking for 15 percent commission for the UH-ID project.
"Those are all lies," he stressed.
The acquisition for the 21 UH-IDs, which is worth Php1.26
billion, have been wracked in controversy after claims of bidding
irregularities and the aircraft being defective.
It was partially terminated last March 25 after suppliers
Rice Aircraft Services Inc. and Eagle Copters Ltd. failed to deliver the rest
of the aircraft.
"In compliance with Section 88, Rule XXII of the IRR of
RA 9184 (Philippine Procurement Law), the contract agreement between the
DND/AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the Joint Venture of Rice Aircraft
Services, Inc. and Eagle Copters Ltd. for the supply and delivery of 21 UH-I
helicopters for the PAF with corresponding contract price of Php1,263,000,000
shall be partially terminated for exceeding the 10 percent maximum liquidated
damages," the DND order signed by Gazmin said.
There are 20 UH-IH and seven UH-1Ds at the Air Force
inventory as of this time.
"Both aircraft have the top speed of 124 KIAS (knot
indicated airspeed) but when you are flying UH-IH model, you can feel the
aircraft starting to shake or shiver when you are approaching speeds up to 82
to 90 knots. But in the UH-ID, you can feel no vibration and even if you are
cruising at speed of 110 KIAS," said Major Aristides Galang, 210th
Tactical Squadron operations officer and the test pilot involved in the
acceptance test of UH-IDs.
"It (UH-ID) also climbs very fast compared to the
UH-IH," the PAF official pointed out.
Galang, who has 1,900 flying hours to his credit, also
stressed that during acceptance tests of the aircraft, either the UH-ID
performs up to standard, as specified in the PAF checklist, or it will not be
accepted for service until.
During the so-called "maintenance test flights"
(which are done during the pre-acceptance phase), all forms of maneuvers, are
conducted to ensure that the aircraft has no major discrepancy which could
cause it to fail or crash while in PAF service.
This includes air and ground handling and various emergency
procedures, the pilot said.
On claims that major discrepancies were encountered during
initial tests of the aircraft, Galang said this is only natural as all aircraft
are prone to wear-and-tear while flying.
Galang said the same holds true for all aircraft in every
Air Force in the world and dealing with such discrepancies is the job of
maintenance crews and officers.
PAF spokesman Col. Enrico Canaya earlier said the
"D" designation in the UH-1 means that it was manufactured by
Dornier, a German aircraft manufacturer that started construction of the UH-1
during 1967 to 1981.
Around 350 units were build by the German aircraft
manufacturer.
Canaya said that all seven UH-IDs are deployed to Central Luzon and Manila PAF units.
"The PAF, however, opted to deploy these newly turned
over units to Central Luzon and Manila
areas for endurance flights, training and other missions to make it accessible
to technical representatives and take advantage of warranty claims," he
added.
The PAF spokesman also clarified that the UH-1Ds and UH-IHs,
still in Philippine service, are similar models but made by different
manufacturers.
"Their airframes are old but once they are refurbished
and maintenance manuals they are reliable to perform missions. The PAF has a
wealth of experience operating and maintaining UH-1 helicopters since the
1970s," he added.
Canaya also dismissed reports that UH-1D spare parts are no
longer available in the market.
"Their parts are not obsolete and available in the
market just like the parts for the existing fleets of UH-1Hs the PAF is
currently maintaining. The UH-1H helicopters are still widely use in other
countries," he added.
Canaya also said that the PAF does not accept aircraft with
technical issues.
"The PAF only receives and operates units that passed
the Technical Inspection And Acceptance Committee," he pointed out.
The PAF spokesman stated that the newly arrived UH-IDs are
more superior to the UH-1Hs as it features composite main rotor blades which
have a better performance and safety feature that the latter aircraft.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=782576
