PH Coast Guard’s new helicopter takes off on maiden flight
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday began the maiden flight of its newly-acquired Airbus H145 helicopter.
PCG commandant Admiral Joel Garcia joined the flight around PCG headquarters in Manila, said the agency’s spokesperson Commodore Arman Balilo.
The PCG earlier ordered two Airbus H145 helicopters worth P685 million each from Germany. It is a twin-engine helicopter equipped with high-frequency radios, emergency flotation gear, fast roping, cargo, sling, searchlight, and electro-optical systems.
The air assets are expected to perform critical missions including search and rescue, medical evacuation, maritime patrol, and maritime law enforcement, Balilo said.
The pilots of these new helicopters have undergone comprehensive training in Germany in 2019, he also said.
