PAF has only 60 operational aircraft

A "little above 60" of the Air Force’s fleet of aircraft are "operational," with two attack helicopters and a fighter plane being rolled back into service to boost its combat capability.

But Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Nestor Santillan vowed that the number will be "doubled" within two years as priority is being given to the aircraft acquisition program.

Speaking during the recent 56th Philippine Air Force (PAF) anniversary celebration at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Santillan said they have cut down on costs and discontinued non-essential programs to allow the Air Force to acquire more aircraft to fly.

"In our recovery efforts, we had been materially and financially challenged," he said. "But we hurdled barriers and we are on track to recovering at least three helicopters per quarter.

Santillan said the Air Force today is focused on priorities and its men benefit from more specialized training, with their maintenance schedules on time.

"At that time, many of our assets were nearing the end of their life cycles," he said. "We were woefully short of aircraft. Critical spares were hard to come by."

Santillan said the Air Force has "fully recovered" nine aircraft and four more "at 90 percent without additional budget delays," and that three UH-1H helicopters have been reconditioned and sent to combat areas.

Of these, two MG-520 attack helicopters, an OV-10 plane, and an SF-200TP have been rolled back into action, he added.

Santillan said an S-76 Sikorski helicopter has been restored and now ready for search and rescue operations, while an LC-210 plane has been repaired for use as weather tracker and rainmaker.

These restoration projects are outside the modernization program and the foreign-assistance package, he added.

Santillan said Thailand has promised to give the Philippine Air Force 10 OV-10 planes as a "gift."

New Zealand has also committed to train PAF pilots in maritime patrol, he added.

Santiilan said the Malaysian Royal Air Force has lent propellers to the PAF for use of refurbished C-130 aircraft, pending the arrival of planes ordered from Malaysia.

Santillan said other repair projects are:

• C-130 having completed a programmed depot maintenance in Malaysia;

• TC 690 Aero Commander for restoration in Taiwan;

• Nomad N-22B undergoing restoration at Mactan in Cebu;

• UH-IH in Clark expected to be operational this month;

• SF-260TP light attack aircraft which is being reconfigured;

• Two S-211 jet trainers undergoing major structural inspection;

• Three UH-IH helicopters being fully restored;

• C-130 due for programmed depot maintenance in October;

• Two trainer aircraft, a T41D and an SF-260M, will be restored in November; and

• F-27 and S-70 Blackhawk helicopters will be restored the first quarter of 2004.