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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider First cooperative-owned SkyCourier plane arrives in PH

First cooperative-owned SkyCourier plane arrives in PH

Published Jun 13, 2026 07:10 pm
screen grab from Facebook account post of Ariel Fernandez
screen grab from Facebook account post of Ariel Fernandez
A multi-purpose cooperative composed of active and retired soldiers has acquired a Cessna 408 SkyCourier aircraft, which it said, marked its strategic expansion into the aviation industry.
The ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative (ACDI MPC) said the arrival of the first-ever Cessna 408 SkyCourier in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region was made possible through its subsidiary, Leading Edge Air Services Corporation (LEASCOR). 
“This represents another milestone in the cooperative's continuing commitment to innovation, nation-building, and service excellence,” the group said in a statement.
The 19 seaters Cessna  plane, its call Skycourier Aircraft, travelled from Texas, Las Vegas, California, Guam and arrived at the Clark Airport in Pampanga after almost 10-day of travel with three pilots, Jose Comendador Jr., Fred Chris Sorenson and Glen Scott Gordon. 
It said the Cessna 408 SkyCourieris is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that can be rapidly configured for cargo operations. This, the group said, made it ideal for passenger transport, logistics support, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and inter-island connectivity. 
“One of the aircraft's key advantages is its capability to operate from shorter and less-developed runways, enabling access to remote and underserved communities that are often difficult for larger aircraft to reach,” the ACDI MPC said.
“This makes it particularly well-suited to the geographic realities of the Philippine archipelago,” it added.
With a membership base of more than 230,000 active and retired uniformed personnel and their dependents, ACDI MPC has long been recognized as one of the country's most successful cooperatives, providing financial services, livelihood opportunities, and member-centered programs that improve the quality of life of its members and their families. 
ACDI MPC is chaired by retired major general Gilbert S. Llanto, AFP, who also serves as the President of the National Alliance of Cooperatives (NAC), said, the cooperatives are now expanding into strategic industries that contribute directly to economic growth, transportation connectivity, job generation, and countryside development.
Based at Clark General Aviation Airport, LEASCOR serves a wide range of destinations across the Philippines. Its operations include the Zamboanga-Jolo route, charter services for mining companies, exclusive resorts, corporate clients, and customized air transport services tailored to specific customer requirements. 
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