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(File photo) MANILA - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Thursday announced that it has readied 10 aircraft to help in the ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions related to the magnitude 7 earthquake that rocked Abra and nearby provinces. In a message to the Philippine News Agency, Air Force spokesperson, Col. Maynard Mariano, said these aircraft include three S-70i "Black Hawk" combat utility helicopters, two UH-IHs, one Super Huey; one Huey II, one C-208B reconnaissance aircraft, and one W-3A "Sokol" helicopter. Also, Mariano said disaster response task units (DRTUs) from Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 1, 2 and 3 which are located in Northern and Central Luzon are also on full alert for possible HADR missions. Earlier, the PAF spokesperson said that it has deployed its aircraft to conduct a "rapid damage assessment and needs analysis" (RDANA) missions. Mariano said the PAF would maximize all of its assets in all ongoing searc
MANILA - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said Wednesday it would deploy one of its Cessna 208 surveillance aircraft for a "rapid damage assessment and needs analysis" (RDANA) mission after a magnitude 7 earthquake shook Abra and other parts of Luzon. "We have a C-208 that will conduct RDANA of the area, (the aircraft will be) taking off from Clark (Air Base in Pampanga). On board are (an) OCD (Office of Civil Defense) assessment team," PAF spokesperson, Col. Maynard Mariano, said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Mariano said the PAF would maximize all of its assets in all ongoing search-and-rescue missions. "Our personnel in those (affected) areas are doing their assessment. Search and rescue will be the priority mission," he added. Mariano noted that the RDANA flight is ongoing and that all information would be passed to the OCD. Aside from the C-208, two S-70i "Black Hawks" are in the area along with two Super Huey helicopters t
(File photo) MANILA - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) bared Thursday its remaining sub-sonic SIAI Marchetti S-211 jet trainers are now being utilized for training and other support missions. This came after the delivery of the 12 units of the Mach 1.5 capable South Korean-made FA-50PH light jet fighters has been completed. "(The S-211s are now being utilized for) fighter pilot training, close-air support, and maritime patrol over the KIG (Kalayaan Island Ground)," said PAF spokesperson, Col. Maynard Mariano, in a message to the Philippine News Agency. When asked if there are plans for the PAF to augment or acquire new aircraft to backstop its S-211 aircraft, Mariano said research is now ongoing for its replacement. "We are planning for a replacement, research is ongoing, and there will be a presentation (of the possible aircraft models) to the senior leadership soon," he added. The PAF acquired around 25 S-211 units in the 1990s but attrition and lack of spare parts