Following the tragic C-130 transport plane crash in Sulu over the weekend, an A-29B Super Tucano light attack aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has also sustained damage during a test flight--thus raising questions as to whether or not the protocols being implemented by the military have duly addressed assets maintenance.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page Thursday, July 8, the PAF confirmed that the Brazilian aircraft was flown for a routine maintenance equipment check flight at Clark Air Base in Pampanga and "sustained some damage during landing."
It was not mentioned exactly when the incident happened but military and defense news blog MaxDefense Philippines described it as a "recent incident."
The PAF said that a Brazilian instructor pilot of Embraer Defense and Security, its Brazilian manufacturer, served as the pilot in command of the Super Tucano when the incident occured. Meanwhile, it said the wing commander of the 15th Strike Wing to which the aircraft was assigned to "sat as observer/passenger in the entire duration of the flight."
According to initial investigation, the Brazilian Embraer instructor pilot "failed to initiate a go-around and prevent a positive landing" which damaged parts of the aircraft.
"The Brazilian Instructor Pilot had full control of the aircraft and responsibility for the flight. The Wing Commander was just a mere passenger observing the performance and flight characteristics of the aircraft as part of his functions," it said.
Coincidentally on Thursday, the PAF's 15th Strike Wing bared that Brig. Gen. Aristotle Gonzalez has been installed as its new wing commander, replacing Brig. Gen. Araus Robert Musico. The 15th Strike Wing did not elaborate on the recent change of leadership.
The PAF said all the damaged parts incurred by the Super Tucano aircraft "are all reparable" and will be provided by Embraer "at no cost to the PAF."
"The replacement parts coming from Embraer in Brazil are ready for shipment and the aircraft technicians are all set to fly to the country to repair and put the aircraft back to operational status all to be shouldered by Embraer," it noted.
The PAF assured transparency on the progress of fixing the aircraft as it denied rumors that the incident was hidden from the public. "It was never hidden," it stressed.
"Embraer considered the event a minor flight incident that normally happens during flights," it added.
The damaged Super Tucano was among the six light attack aircraft purchased by the PAF from Embraer in 2017 for P4.968 billion.
The aircraft were delivered in two batches, first in September 2020 and second in October 2020. Test flights are being conducted by Brazilian and Filipino pilots to ensure that the PAF is knowledgeable to fly these assets.
The Super Tucano is a turboprop aircraft that is designed for light attack, counter-insurgency, close-air support, aerial recoinnasance missions in low threat environments, and pilot training.
The incident was bared to the public after a Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane of PAF crashed in Patikul, Sulu last July 4, killing 52 individuals and injuring 51 others.