The Philippine Air Force (PAF) together with foreign counterparts exchanged best practices on Low-Cost, Low-Altitude (LCLA) airdrop exercises in Sta Rosa, Nueva Ecija.
The PAF held the exercises with the United States Air Force (USAF), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Malaysia), Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU), and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Airlifters.
“This activity is one of the flying training exercises of the Pacific Airlift Rally 2023 (PAR-23), which aims to expand the participants’ capability in delivering bundle cargoes for humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations, increase participating air forces’ interoperability, and improve logistics capabilities,” Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a statement Wednesday.
This activity is one of the Flying Training Exercises of the Pacific Airlift Rally 2023 which aims to expand the participants’ capability in delivering bundle cargoes for humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations, increase participating air forces’ interoperability, and improve logistics capabilities.
Castillo said the term “low cost” is used because the pre-packed expendable parachutes being used for the airdrop is relatively cheaper.
Meanwhile, “low altitude” refers to the height of the aircraft during the actual drop.
Dropping from a lower altitude has been proven to be more accurate.
The LCLA serves as an opportunity for the PAF and other international counterparts to share knowledge and expertise on critical airdrop
techniques.
She said this would allow the contingent Air Force troops to improve their capabilities and be better prepared to respond to natural
disasters and other humanitarian emergencies.
“For the PAF, this LCLA capability will enable our airlifters to quickly deliver resupply to ground operating troops and provide relief
goods to areas inaccessible by land after the onslaught of calamities and disasters,” Castillo said.
The PAR-23 runs from Aug. 14 to 18 with a total of 779 participants coming from the PAF and the Philippine Army, as well as their
counterparts from the United States, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri
Lanka and Timor-Leste, who are set to take part in flying training, tabletop exercises and subject matter expert.
Castillo said the PAF, as a first-time host and 10th nation to facilitate this capability-building exercise, is honored to be the
instrument that brought 14 countries together to achieve stronger multilateral cooperation.
The exchange of best practices will help contingent air forces to improve their capabilities and be better prepared to respond to
natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies.
For the PAF, this LCLA capability will enable our Airlifters to quickly deliver resupply to ground operating troops and provide relief
goods to areas inaccessible by land after the onslaught of calamities and disasters.