The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Thursday (July 8) said the C-130 aircraft that figured in a fatal crash was airworthy when it departed Cagayan de Oro on July 4.
This was amid rumors that the aircraft was defective when it was obtained by the military. PAF Spokesperson Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano said their pilots and personnel always ensure that assets are in good condition before flight. Military aircrafts also undergo rigorous pre-flight, thru-flight, and post-flight inspections.
“The Air Force will never release an aircraft ‘pag hindi siya airworthy. Lahat po ginagawa ng Air Force to make sure na nasa maayos po ang equipment natin bago ito isabak sa isang misyon,” Mariano said in an interview.
PAF also denied claims that current military pilot training is unfit for modernized assets, saying that they usually have protocol and training adjustments.
“Ang ating mga piloto is at par po sa training, world standards. Talaga pong masusing dumaraan ang ating mga piloto sa mga training na to. We are going to a stringent training program,” Mariano said.
The C-130 with tail number 5125 arrived in the country late January and was welcomed to the PAF fleet in February. It recently departed Villamor Airbase to transport passengers to Cagayan de Oro, including the new commander of the Fourth Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told President Duterte on July 6 that the same aircraft was used to deliver medical equipment to Iloilo City on July 1.
Meanwhile, the PAF assured the public of continuous operations, despite placing C-130 planes under grounded status, saying that it has three C-295 assets for the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ humanitarian activities. – Report from Bea Bernardo/AG- jlo
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