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More than 40 PAF aircraft on standby for possible relief ops

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
July 24, 2025, 5:22 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said Thursday it has more than 40 aircraft on standby for possible relief missions amid the severe weather caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon and a series of tropical cyclones.

"For the part of the PAF, we have more than 40 (air) assets on standby. We have one (W-3A) Sokol helicopter, it is already prepositioned at Clark Air Base in Pampanga," PAF deputy spokesperson, Maj. Joseph Richard Calma, said in an interview.

Calma added that the service also has its S-70i Black Hawks on standby at the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga.

"They are now ready to respond for immediate evacuation," he said.

Aside from these aircraft, the PAF also has other airlift assets like the C-130 and C-295 medium transports that can be used to bring relief goods to affected areas, he added.

Calma also said PAF air assets could likewise be used for rapid damage assessment, needs analysis, and medical evacuation, if needed.

If the affected communities cannot be accessed by large planes, Calma said they have smaller and lighter aircraft like the NC-212i and the Nomad fixed-wing light aircraft to perform the mission.

The PAF also has rotary-winged aircraft or helicopters to fly these missions if even the smaller planes cannot land on or access an affected locality, he added.

Meanwhile, Calma said they have information that a United States aircraft, a KC-135, will soon head for Clark Air Base carrying equipment for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.

"The aircraft is currently in Japan and it is awaiting departure," he said. "We do not have yet the exact date or time kung kailan siya mag-a-arrive dito sa (of its arrival in the) Philippines. But what is important is support from the US is coming in."

Asked if the American aircraft will bring other items aside from HADR equipment, Calma said, "We do not know yet. What we know (is that its) mission is to bring in HADR equipment." (PNA)