First of 3 aircraft acquired from Spain arrives in Clark

MANILA, Philippines - The first of the three C-295 transport planes acquired by the Philippines from Spain arrived in Clark, Pampanga last Sunday, the Air Force said.

Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Enrico Canaya said the medium lift fixed-wing aircraft arrived at the Clark Air Base at exactly 5:31 p.m.

The plane departed Seville, Spain last March 16 and was flown into the country by civilian pilots and crew of the supplier Airbus Military.

“The arrival of the aircraft is still on the delivery phase. The aircraft will still undergo acceptance process before it will be turned over to the Philippine Air Force,” Canaya said in a statement.  

The acceptance process involves inspection and test flights and lasts for three to five days.

Last year, The STAR reported that Spanish firm Airbus Military won the bidding for the purchase of three medium lift fixed wing aircraft. Airbus offered to supply the planes for P5.29-billion, lower than the P5.3-billion approved budget for the contract.

The C-295 plane can carry as much as 71 passengers, 50 paratroops, 24 stretchers with five to seven attendants or up to 20,000 lbs of cargoes. The aircraft is also capable of short field landing and takeoff.

Canaya said the air asset has rear ramp door similar to that of C-130 cargo planes for easier access and loading/unloading of passengers and cargoes

“It can augment in the type missions performed by the C-130s for lesser payload requirements,” the Air Force spokesman.

“The C-295 will enhance the overall capability of the Air Force in providing airlift requirements of the armed forces and during humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations,” he added.

The training of the first batch of Air Force pilots and maintenance crew was done in Seville and was completed on March 10.

“Succeeding training for pilots will continue this year in anticipation of the delivery of two more C-295s.  The two other C-295 is expected in 2016 but earlier delivery is a possibility,” Canaya said.