By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat Aircraft recovery and rescue industry leader RESQTEC is seeking to establish its footprint in the Philippines by offering a wide array of solution to lift and move a new generation of bigger and heavier aircraft. The Netherlands-based RESQTEC has urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to consider investing in modern and state-of-the-art aircraft recovery kits that can work on every type of aircraft quickly and easily. The recent runway excursion incident with Xiamen Air at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s main airport, and the Philippines Airlines flight’s blown out tire episode in Sibulan Airport in Dumaguete City — which both took place in August — underscored the need for the government to review its protocols and update its aircraft recovery system to ensure speedy recovery of aircraft and mitigate costs as a result of the flight delays. The August 17 Xiamen Air incident alone prompted airport authorities to cancel hundreds of domestic and international flights and divert flights to other provinces. It was estimated that some 150,000 air travellers had been affected by the closure of the NAIA runway, and initial tally of losses and damages was placed at P33 million. “The new generation of aircraft are heavier and bigger and could seriously pose a big challenge to recovery efforts. You cannot use the old and conventional aircraft recovery equipment if you’re dealing with larger aircraft with new wing design,” RESQTEC said. “What RESQTEC is offering is not just equipment, but a comprehensive solution backed by technical experts to ensure quick aircraft recovery and manage risks,” it added. RESQTEC is the market leader in aircraft recovery, boasting 45 years of experience in the rescue industry. On request of Airbus and IATA’s Aircraft Recovery Task Force, RESQTEC developed a unique solution to lift and recover the new generation of aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787 that are bigger, heavier and have a new wing design. “We are proud to say that this solution cuts back the time of an aircraft recovery operation by more than 50 percent. RESQTEC is the only provider of complete aircraft recovery kits that offer a solution for lifting and moving an aircraft,” the Dutch firm said. With the government’s plan to modernize the airports across the country under its “Build, Build, Build” program, some business leaders are also encouraging the DOTr to put in place an aircraft recovery solution to manage risks and mitigate losses.