A new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility for the egress components of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) assets will soon rise in Floridablanca, Pampanga.
The PAF broke ground for the Martin-Baker MRO facility on Tuesday, June 21, to ensure that air force personnel will have a last chance for life in case of a flight emergency through the provision of a working egress or ejection system in the aircraft.
The ground breaking ceremony was attended by Department of National Defense Undersecretary for Acquisition and Resource Management Raymundo Elefante; NTC Vice President for Sales and Marketing Ricardo Pinsotes; and PAF Air Defense Command chief Maj. Gen. Augustine Malinit.
“Through the MRO Facility, the PAF will cater to the supply and distribution of services for the maintenance, overhaul and repair of egress components of FA-50PH, AS-211, and A-29 Super Tucano aircraft,” said Col. Maynard Mariano, PAF spokesperson.
The new facility will accommodate some of the most advanced assets of the PAF in its current fleet such as the FA50PH light fighter jets, SIAI-Marchetti AS-211 trainer jets, and A-29B Super Tucano trainer and light attack aircraft.
The facility is set to ensure that PAF assets will have a working egress or ejection system. The egress system is used by an aircrew member to exit an aircraft if it suffers from an unexpected emergency during a flight.
The PAF has partnered with Novacell Telecom Corporation (NTC), a Quezon City-based company engaged in the provision of aviation gadgets and parts, to establish the MRO facility.