… 4 PAF troops survive chopper crash in Cebu

What was supposed to be a training run turned into a real emergency when a Philippine Air Force UH-1H "Huey" helicopter figured in an accident in Cebu last Friday, the PAF said yesterday.

"The air crew on board escaped unhurt," the PAF said in a statement, but "substantial damage" was sustained by the aircraft after it crash-landed in a reclamation area across Cebu City.

PAF officials based at the Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan island, Cebu said the helicopter’s crew was under training for advanced emergency procedures when the mishap occurred.

Based on the helicopter crew’s account, the 13-seater aircraft suddenly went into an uncontrollable rotation in one direction as they were terminating a simulated emergency landing on a vacant lot in the reclamation site across Cebu City.

The Huey’s pilot, Capt. Jovan Morada, immediately recognized the dangerous situation, performed emergency procedures and shut off the helicopter’s engine to prevent fire.

The aircraft came to a rest on its side and sustained substantial damage, but its crew’s quick action saved them from injury.

The three other crew of the Huey were identified as 1Lt. Dante Aquino, S/Sgt. Mario Damata and T/Sgt. Robin de Guzman.

Aquino was training under Morada.

A rescue team and an aircraft accident investigating team were dispatched by the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing from Mactan.

Pending investigation, the cause of the accident has yet to be determined, the PAF said.

In Singapore, meanwhile, ST Aerospace has signed a deal to sell 20 old helicopters to the Philippines for $11 million.

The refurbished, 30-year-old UH-1H helicopters
will be used for "medical evacuations, troop transportation and support operations against a host of Muslim and communist rebel groups."

ST Aerospace, a subsidiary of Singapore Technologies, will provide repair services for the aircraft up to 2006. — Sandy Araneta, Freeman News Service, AFP