Newly donated chopper boosts PA’s disaster response capabilities

THE PHILIPPINE Army (PA) on Friday said the newly donated Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Bo-105 helicopter to its Army Aviation Regiment will greatly enhance its capabilities to respond to disaster relief missions.

Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Bo-105 helicopter (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

"The donation of the cutting-edge Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Bo 105 will be an additional mission-essential equipment for the Army Aviation that will support the Army units and other government agencies during disasters and calamities in the country," PA spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement.

Meanwhile, PA chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the donated helicopter will catalyze the Army’s future rotary aviation and a springboard to improve the capacity of the Army Aviation Regiment.

He also added that the PA will continue to push for additional air assets to develop the Army Aviation Regiment’s capability of supporting combined operations through the acquisition of armed reconnaissance helicopters, medium-lift multipurpose helicopters, and special mission aircraft as well as the expansion of its base support facilities.

“I vow to develop and enhance the capability of Army Aviation,” Brawner stressed.

The aircraft was donated by Dornier Technology, Inc. to the Army Aviation Regiment during short ceremonies at Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija last Oct. 26.

Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Jose C. Faustino, Jr., who was the guest-of-honor and speaker, emphasized the importance of the aircraft on equipment readiness and operations.

“To the PA, headed by Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., congratulations! This aircraft will beef up your equipment readiness without any acquisition cost to the government. Operationally, it will hasten the response time for PA-directed flight missions since its operational use will be directly under your control,” he added.

As this developed, 13 Army aviators graduated under the Aviator Qualification Course "Paraluman" Class 19-2021 at the Army Aviation Regiment headquarters also in Fort Ramon Magsaysay on Oct. 26.

Faustino, who also served as the guest of honor and speaker, commended the dedication and strong will of the instructor pilots and the students.

"Today’s culmination ceremony marks another milestone for the 'Hiraya' Regiment’s Aviation School Center as it outstandingly fulfills its mission of training, capacitating, and empowering future army aviators. This is another testament to the Regiment’s commitment to capability development. Carry on!" he said.

The Army Aviation Qualification Course includes the orientation phase, ground phase, visual flight rule, basic flight phase, instrument flying, and advanced flight phase.

Also included in the program is the cross-country flying and the equipment transition training to the Cessna 172, and the four-seater aircraft, which leads various Army missions and operations in the country. (Priam Nepomuceno)