New C-295 transport plane to be turned over to Air Force on Monday

The first of three new C-295 medium lift aircraft will be blessed and turned over to the Philippine Air Force on Monday, Air Force Spokesperson Lt. Col. Enrico Canaya said in an interview.

The plane, bought under the Philippine Air Force Modernization Program, arrived at Clark Air Base in Pampanga last week. It was then inspected and tested by the Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee before being turned over to the PAF.

The  ceremony Monday will mark the formal turnover of the Airbus C-295 to the Philippine government.

“May mga personalities from Airbus, tapos iaabot yung documents na symbolic. Tapos, nandun din yung C-295 mismo, ipapakita,” Canaya said.

In the same interview, Canaya said the new aircraft will aid the country in transporting troops, goods, and supplies.

“Makakatulong, of course. Obviously, it’s a new aircraft. Wala pa kaming C-295 before eh,” he said.

In an earlier statement, the AFP said the C-295 can perform the same missions that the C-130 — the PAF's current workhorse — does but with smaller payloads.
 
Two more C-295s, which can carry 71 passengers, 50 paratroopers, or up to 20,000 lbs. of cargo, are to be delivered in 2016.

Altogether, the three planes cost P2.59 billion. — Patricia Denise Chiu/JDS, GMA News