PAF unit in Zamboanga City boosts pilots' night-flying capability

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) continues to enhance its night-flying capability and is preparing all its aircraft for night missions, an official said.

Brig. Gen. Danilo Ferrer, chief of the 3rd Air Division based here, said they have been training all their pilots to respond to any situation even at night.

Ferrer cited the recent tragedy involving SuperFerry 9 that sank off Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte when an OV-10 bomber plane was deployed before dawn to conduct reconnaissance.

The PAF plane acted as the spotter for several rescue ships, leading to the recovery of close to a thousand passengers of the ill-fated ship.

Ferrer said exercises to enhance night-flying capability have been ongoing, involving MG-520 attack helicopters, UH-1H Huey helicopters, OV-10 bomber planes and other aircraft.

Ferrer declined to say how many of their planes were being used in the exercises, saying though that all the pilots under his command have been training for more than a month now.

He allayed the residents’ apprehension on the constant night-flying exercises, saying their aircraft were all built with night-vision capability and manned by trained pilots.

“What we have been doing is just enhancing (our capability) more,” he said.