PAF wishlist for Bush: More aircraft

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — More UH-1H helicopters, C-130 and C-12 planes and F-5 fighter jets.

This is the wishlist of Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Nestor Santillan for US President George W. Bush who will visit the country on Oct. 18.

"Right now, we are really in need of more aircraft, especially those for the internal security operations of the Armed Forces, including helicopters and other transport aircraft that we use to evacuate and extricate our wounded soldiers," he said.

Santillan was here yesterday to turn over some P500,000 to the 600th Air Base Wing for an agricultural project at the 315-hectare Air Force City.

"We would also like to request additional training for our personnel to upgrade their skills needed for the Armed Forces’ modernization. We need the skills to prepare our people in the event that we purchase more modern aircraft," he said.

Santillan expressed his wish that Bush, during his visit, would commit more UH-1H helicopters and C-130 cargo aircraft for the Philippines.

"Hopefully, we can also ask for medium lift transport aircraft, maybe a C-12, because that is what we really lack," he added. "If possible, we would also want fighter jets. F-5s would suffice since they would satisfy our requirements."

Santillan, however, said the two C-130s which the US government earlier had turned over to the Philippines, have remained "under-utilized" and used merely to transport personnel instead of huge military equipment such as tanks which the Armed Forces also lacks.

"Let’s not dream of those highly sophisticated aircraft such as F-15s and 16s. It would be nice to have these aircraft but with our economic situation, we will find (it difficult to maintain them) and it will take a lot of money to train maintenance people, pilots and all sorts of these things," he said.

Santillan said there would be no problem with F-5 jets "since we already have skilled pilots and maintenance people, and we can really maintain these aircraft."

He said the 30 UH-1H helicopters and some 16,000 Armalite rifles reportedly arriving soon were part of the US government’s commitments to President Arroyo during her recent state visit to the US, and not part of a new package of US military assistance timed for Bush’s visit.

Of the 30 helicopters, he said 20 are operational while the rest would be used for their spare parts.

Meanwhile, Santillan complimented Air Force commanders for their efforts in the Air Force’s repair program for UH-1Hs, Nomads, G-520s and OV-10s.

"Our aircraft recovery program is on track. I am very happy that the commanders concerned have been doing their jobs in supporting me in the aircraft recovery program. It is one program that we should pursue since we are really short of aircraft," he said.

Since he took over as Air Force chief, he said 22 aircraft have been repaired.