VILLAMOR AIR FORCE BASE, Pasay City — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) yesterday dispatched two fully armed S76 helicopters to Palawan to provide air security for the Malampaya natural gas project.
Malamapaya is the country’s largest source of natural gas and the PAF leadership has found it imperative to protect the installation from possible terrorist attacks.
The two helicopters, including their crew, were given a send-off blessing at the Villamor Air Base (VAB) yesterday morning.
The Sikorsky helicopters are both armed with rockets and three .50 caliber machineguns.
PAF commanding general Lieutenant General Jose L. Reyes said Defense officials decided to assign the two helicopters there as they see the vital installation as prone to terrorist attacks.
He added that military authorities requested the PAF to deploy the Sikorsky helicopters as it has the speed and endurance to conduct offshore patrol operations, be able to land on the rig, and still have enough fuel to return to its operating base in the Palawan mainland.
The Malampaya projects sits on an offshore rig. Security is provided by both the PAF and Navy. The Navy has deployed its ships along the length of its submarine pipeline while the PAF provides air coverage.
