Coronavirus missions keep PH Air Force air assets busy

A Philippine Air Force C-130 airlifted procured personal protective equipment sets from China from April 6 to 8. Flights are expected to continue until the delivery of 1 million PPE sets is complete. Photo from PAF PAO

MANILA, Philippines — Coronavirus missions have been keeping Philippine Air Force air assets busy these days to support the government’s response to the pandemic.

From daily flights between April 6 and 8, a C-130 plane airlifted a total of 30,125 kilograms of personal protective equipment (PPE) that the Philippine government had procured from China, PAF said in a statement Sunday.

The Philippine government earlier purchased 1 million PPE sets worth P1.8 billion from China to support health workers and those on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19.

Each PPE set consists of an N95 mask, goggles, coveralls, head cover, shoe cover, surgical mask, gloves, and surgical gown.

The flights to China are expected to continue until the delivery of the PPE sets has been completed.

“With tireless devotion in serving the country, the PAF will always be ready and willing to transport, back and forth, all the requirements needed to help the frontliners as they battle the virus and serve our countrymen,” PAF said.

Apart from C-130 flights, the Philippine government has also commissioned flights to assist in picking up the PPE sets from China, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a virtual press briefing Sunday.

The C-130 also assists in the transport of PPE sets to other provinces like Cebu, Zamboanga and Davao City. Currently, the PAF has two operational C-130 planes.

PAF said it was using a “hub and spoke” approach for air assets like C-295, NC2121i, N-22. and SF-260.

These air assets are prepositioned in air bases in Cebu and Zamboanga, ready to transport limited medical supplies to nearby provinces and cities.