Philippine Coast Guard Takes Delivery of Second H145 for Parapublic Missions
MANILA: Philippine Coast Guard today welcomed its second H145 helicopter, just four months after the official commissioning of its first H145. With their two light-twin helicopters, the parapublic agency becomes the first coast guard organisation in the world to operate the multi-purpose H145.
The new 4-tonne-class twin-engine helicopter is specially equipped with weather radar, bambi bucket, emergency floatation gears, as well as external loudspeaker, to perform critical missions such as search and rescue, maritime patrol, law enforcement and fire-fighting.
“Having led numerous operations in the country for many years, we are very happy to be the first in the Philippines to introduce the H145 for parapublic missions,” said Captain Philipps Y.Soria, Commander of Coast Guard Aviation Force at the agency’s 119th anniversary celebrations where the second H145 was commissioned. “Our work is ever-evolving, and we need an aircraft that can keep up with a wide range of requirements. We appreciate the H145’s versatility, endurance, and reliability in all conditions.”
“Philippine Coast Guard and Airbus go a long way back since the agency’s first BO105 in 1975. We are delighted that the coast guard has chosen the H145 to strengthen their parapublic fleet. The first H145 helicopter already operated by the coast guard, has proven itself and had taken on numerous humanitarian missions, including the delivery of personal protection equipment and essential supplies to front liners in the Coast Guard District in Negros Occidental, a province located in the Southern Visayas, earlier in March in the fight against COVID-19. We are also happy to know that this second H145 has undertaken its first surveillance mission recently,” said Lionel de Maupeou, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters Philippines.
“We believe that this high performing light-twin helicopter, with its outstanding mission capability, flexibility and operational excellence, will be a perfect fit for Philippine Coast Guard’s most demanding and critical missions. Airbus remains strongly committed, with the support of our in-country team based in Manila, in ensuring the fleet’s high availability for all missions,” he added. –shp/mgm