HIGHERMODELS Former Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin inaugurates lower variants of the
Bell-412 helicopter acquired by the Air Force in 2015. TheAir Force has ordered 16 higher models of
the helicopter supposedly for humanitarian operations and disaster response. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
In 2015, the Philippine Air Force received eight Bell helicopters as part of its modernization program.
The Bell-412EP helicopters were built by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, a unit of Textron Inc.
Bell Helicopter is a producer of commercial, military and vertical-lift aircraft.
The Air Force bought the Bells for P4.8 billion and it used the aircraft for humanitarian, disaster response, and air-transport operations.
Five of the Bells were assigned to the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing, while the remaining three were given to the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing.
The Bell-412EP can accommodate up to 14 passengers and has a maximum capacity of 2,295 kilograms.
Another model of Bell helicopters earlier acquired by the government, the Bell UH-1H, was readied for security preparations for the Philippines’ hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in 2015. —INQUIRER RESEARCH
Sources: Inquirer Archives, textron.com, bellhelicopter.com, paf.mil.ph