C-130 plane in Sulu crash not 'worn-out': AFP spox

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 8, 2021): C-130 plane in Sulu crash not 'worn-out': AFP spox (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Photo courtesy of PNP

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the Lockheed C-130H Hercules cargo plane which crashed in Patikul, Sulu last July 4 is still capable of flying 11,000 hours before its next maintenance period and is not worn-out as claimed by some reports.

"Ang sinabi nila na worn-out, hindi totoo. Kahit hindi brand-new, it still has more than 11,000 flying hours. Hanggang sa next maintenance (Claims that it is worn-out is not true even if it is not brand-new. It still has more than 11,000 flying hours before its maintenance)," AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in an interview with One News Wednesday night.

The C-130H with tail number 5125 was one of the two Hercules cargo transport planes acquired through a grant from the US government that arrived in the country last Jan. 29.

It was formally welcomed to the PAF fleet during a ceremony at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City last Feb. 18.

"Ang isang biyahe na Manila to Zamboanga will not even reach three hours. Ganun kahaba ang (remaining flying hours). Hindi totoo ang sinabi na not airworthy. Hindi ililipad ng mga piloto, they will not risk their own lives if alam nila at di sigurado na airworthy. (A flight from Manila to Zamboanga will not even reach three hours. That's how long the aircraft's remaining flying hours are. It is also not true that the aircraft is not airworthy. No pilot will fly an aircraft that is not airworthy, they will not risk their lives for that)," Arevalo said.

The C-130 is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft.

Arevalo, meanwhile, said a Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 which is undergoing maintenance in Portugal is expected to return to the country within the month.

However, he said the aircraft will not be placed in operational status until the results of the investigation on the recent crash are completed.

The PAF earlier grounded its remaining C-130 planes following the mishap which claimed the lives of 49 military personnel and three civilians, aside from injuring 47 troops and four other civilians.

Prior to the crash, the PAF has four C-130 aircraft -- two are operational and two are undergoing maintenance.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1146381