All pilots, flight crews of PN's AW-109 now ready

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 30): All pilots, flight crews of PN's AW-109 now ready

The pilots and flight crews of the Navy's two attack AgustaWestland AW-109 "Power" helicopters have already completed their flight and maintenance training and are ready to handle the aircraft.

Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic Thursday said these individuals were among the Navy personnel sent in three batches to train in Cesto Calende, Italy last year.

"All training for the pilots and crew of the five AW-109s are already completed," the PN spokesperson stressed.

The Navy last December received and commissioned into service three of the five AW-109s it had ordered.

The remaining two, which are the attack versions, is expected to be delivered by third quarter of this year.

Fabic said that weapon systems training for their attack helicopters will be determined at a later date.

"The only training left (for the crewmen of the two attack AW-109s) will be on the operation of the armament/weapon system," he stated.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=610939