Philippines AF to fly that crashed Tunesian C-130 Hercules..

[Stratofreighter]

...but the damage to this aircraft was such that it could be refurbished again. Derco Aerospace (them of the ex-U.S. Navy TACAMO Dutch "short-Herculeses") will sell it for 34 million U.S. dollars.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/12/23 ... 34-million

Air Force to buy 2nd hand C-130 plane for $34 million

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 12/23/2010 7:17 PM | Updated as of 12/23/2010 7:17 PM

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is set to buy a refurbished C-130 cargo airplane that had overshot a runway.

An American company won the bidding to supply the PAF with the 26-year-old airplane that was previously owned by Tunisia.

Derco Aerospace Inc. was the lone bidder in the project, according to Department of National Defense (DND) spokesman Eduardo Batac.

Batac said Derco Aerospace passed the DND acquisition program’s standards.

"The post qualification is now finished. It's already okay. The result was positive," he added.

The US company offered a 26-year-old Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, originally used by the Tunisian Air Force, for US $34 million.

Tunisia sold the aircraft to Derco in 2007 after the plane figured in the said accident.

Batac said a post-qualification team inspected the facilities of Derco in Wisconsin, including its repair facility in Malaysia where the C-130 plane offered is undergoing refurbishing.

"As reported by the post-qualification team, the package offered by Derco to the Philippine Air Force is over and above the required specifications for the project...

The notice of award will be out shortly," said Batac.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, meanwhile, sought to downplay reports that the deal with Derco was disadvantageous to the government.

He said these perceptions were product of "incomplete information."

"In line with the government's policy of transparency and accountability, let us open our lines of communication so that a proper appreciation of what we do here in the Defense Department can be made, thereby preventing any misunderstanding that might ensue, owing to certain misperceptions formed by way of incomplete information," Gazmin said.

Batac explained that the acquisition project was first approved by the Air Force Weapons and Systems Board on the recommendation of the Air Force Technical Working Group.

"The proposed project was evaluated and endorsed for approval by the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] Weapons Board to the AFP chief of staff and, subsequently, the secretary of National Defense," he added.

[Jaap]

ex Z21011/TS-MTA, see Scramble 379 page 95

Jaap

[dnd-ph]

Statement: Acquisition of a refurbished C-130 H aircraft for the Philippine Air Force
by Department of National Defense - Philippines on Monday, December 20, 2010 at 5:27pm

“ In line with the government’s policy of transparency and accountability, let us open our lines of communication so that a proper appreciation of what we do here in the Defense Department (DND) can be made, thereby preventing any misunderstanding that might ensue, owing to certain mis-perceptions formed by way of incomplete information.”

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin issued this statement to senior DND officials, amidst issues being floated around regarding the acquisition of a refurbished C-130 H aircraft for the Philippine Air Force.

As with other defense acquisitions under the AFP modernization program, the C-130 project went through the different stages of the procurement process. The acquisition project which dates back to 2009, was first approved by the PAF Weapons and Systems Board upon the recommendation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) formed by the Air Force. Thereafter, the proposed project was evaluated and endorsed for approval by the (Armed Forces of the Philippines) AFP Weapons Board to the AFP Chief of Staff and, subsequently, the Secretary of National Defense.

The C-130 H aircraft identified as Lockheed Serial No. 5020 was formerly owned by the Tunisian Air Force. This aircraft was involved in a ground incident after it figured in a runway excursion in Gafsa, Tunisia, and not crashed, as reported in a newspaper.

The US C-130 Technical Coordination Group (TCG) Technical Team which conducted the assessment of the damaged aircraft subsequently recommended the repair of the said aircraft by replacing specified sections of the fuselage and the nose section.

DERCO Aerospace Inc. acquired the subject aircraft in 2007 and in partnership with AIROD,a dependable C-130 repair facility and a Lockheed Martin certified Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul organization (MRO) based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, proceeded with the repair and recovery work for the damaged aircraft.

The aircraft will come with a 2 year Integrated Logistics Support (ILS), an upgraded avionics package, which incorporates a glass cockpit configuration and other advanced features for flight management, navigation and communication. Any price comparisons to be made should take into consideration these features as prescribed by the project ‘s technical specifications.

As reported by the Post Qualification Team, the package offered by DERCO to the Philippine Air Force, is over and above the required specifications for the project.

Secretary Gazmin also stressed the problems encountered by the DND-AFP in its drive to expedite the modernization of the AFP. He however reiterated the Department’s commitment to uphold transparency in the procurement process and its resolve to remain sensitive to the perceptions of the general public. It is in this vein that he welcomes the opportunity to clarify these issues affecting the DND and AFP. *** Issued by the Office for Public Affairs of the Department of National Defense - Republic of the Philippines (Queries & clarifications can be sent to dnd.opla@gmail.com)

Ref: http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=11 ... 2329719509