3 pilots training in US for new PNP choppers
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has sent three police pilots to the United States for training in anticipation of the delivery of a twin-engine helicopter this March.
Deputy Director General Archie Gamboa, chief of the PNP Directorial Staff, said the three pilots from the PNP are currently in Texas to train on flying the Bell twin engine helicopter that the PNP had acquired.
“They are being trained so that when the chopper arrives around March this year, they know how to fly it,” Gamboa told The Manila Bulletin.
He added that the three pilots are accompanied by four more policemen who are experts in the repair and maintenance of helicopters.
Aside from the twin-engine chopper, Gamboa said two more single engine helicopters from France are also expected to arrive around December this year.
The twin-engine helicopter from Bell costs some $400,000 (around 120 million) while the single engine from France are priced some $200,000 (110 million) each.
“These will not be used for combat operations. These are for multi-purpose use because the seats can be redesigned for various purposes such as for medical purposes,” said Gamboa.
Surveillance While he discounted the possibility of the choppers being used for combat operations, Gamboa said they could be used for surveillance once they are able to procure night-vision capabilities.
Such a feature comes in handy when the choppers would be deployed for troop insertion.
But he was quick to clarify that the three choppers will not be mounted with firearms or converted into attack helicopters.
The air assets of the PNP are also expected to grow as the General Appropriations Act provides allocation for the purchase of four more helicopters.
Aside from the war on drugs, the PNP has also at least two units engaged in counter-insurgency operations — led by the Special Action Force (SAF) — and a unit engaged in maritime patrol.
Lessons learned
The PNP has been deprived of helicopters for several years now despite having some pilots assigned for the SAF.
The last time that the PNP procured helicopters was during the time of former president Gloria MacapagalArroyo but the purchase of three choppers became controversial after it was found out that they were all secondhand, but were brought on the price of brand new ones.
Several police officials were charged in connection with the purchase of the said choppers.
“We would like to assure the public that we have learned our lessons. We put in place some measures to ensure that those mistakes will not be repeated,” said Gamboa.
Gamboa said that the purchase of the choppers were supported and approved by President Duterte and both the Senate and the House of Representatives.