MANILA, Philippines - A Commission on Audit (COA) report revealed that the crashes of aging airplanes and helicopters of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) have resulted in the death of 305 pilots in the past 20 years.
Quoting an Aircraft Accident Report (AAR) covering the past two decades, state auditors said the pilots died in 156 crash incidents.
COA said the number of casualties does not include other military officers and civilians who were on board the aircraft when they crashed.
Data showed that out of the 156 incidents, 37 or 23.7 percent are attributed to “material” as the reason or cause of the accident.
“The number will amount to more than six squadrons worth of pilots killed using the US standard number of 16 fighter aircraft per squadron and a ratio of 3:1, meaning three pilots for every fighter aircraft,” COA said.
“It cannot be denied that wear and tear, as a consequence of ageing, cause mechanical and engine trouble leading to unwanted aircraft crashes,” the audit report stressed.
COA said the unnecessary loss of lives does not even cover the costs of training the pilots, the expertise and experience lost “which the PAF sorely needs.”
State auditors said wounded soldiers in the battlefield who have the chance to live are also dying due to massive loss of blood as a result of the lack of helicopters that would immediately airlift them to the nearest hospital and could have avoided many otherwise preventable deaths.
Considering that “the Philippines topped the list of countries that experienced the most natural disasters in 2009” and is number three in disaster mortality rate based on a report called the Annual Disaster Statistical Review, COA said the PAF’s weak capabilities for search and rescue could likewise mean the loss of more lives of civilians.
COA, in its 2010 annual audit report for the PAF, emphasized the need to modernize the Air Force.
With only 31 aging airplanes and 54 helicopters left, state auditors said the PAF “virtually has a non-existent air deterrent capability.”
“A modern and well-equipped Philippine Air Force is needed now more than ever if we are to protect our sovereign and territorial integrity,” COA said.
“Considering this abject state of its air assets, which are mostly ageing, the Philippine Air Force is ill equipped to be operationally responsive to national security and development and is hard pressed to efficiently and effectively serve the economic interest and welfare of the nation,” the audit report said.
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