PCG Air Group marks 11th year, cites good safety record

By YUL MALICSE
May 23, 2009, 3:50pm

The Philippine Coast Guard Air Group (CGAG) headed by command and check out pilot Commodore Aaron T. Reconquista, celebrated its 11th founding anniversary last May 18, 2009, citing its safety record of ‘4,000 accident-free days’ and still counting for more since its birth.

Keynoting the anniversary in rites held at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Hangar, Domestic Airport Complex, Pasay City, Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo D. Tamayo commended the entire CGAG for a job “well done,” specifically for its accident-free air operations in support of the multi-pronged mission of the PCG. “The CGAG did exceptionally well as first responders in various PCG search and rescue (SAR) missions, disaster-response operations, medical rescue of severely injured or seriously-ill crewmembers from the high seas,” said Tamayo as he greeted CGAG officers, men and women “Bravo Zulu!” Let’s continue to serve our nation with even more zest by ensuring safe, clean and secure maritime environment!”

Commodore Reconquista for his part, said that ‘for the record, the CGAG has logged an accumulated flying time of more than 3,648 plus 20 hours over the past decade.’ “From May 2008 to date alone, the CGAG has logged 480 plus 46 total flying time in terms of nautical miles, covering already some 450,450 nautical miles over 2,965,962 square meters maritime jurisdiction of the entire archipelago (350 plus 20 hours for PCG Islander and 100 plus 30 hours for PCG helicopter).

“The CGAG also conducted more than 1,900 different sorties or missions out of the total free-accident days, be it maritime, search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety administration, marine environmental protection, maritime surveillance and patrol, jibe maintenance and training flight, command control missions and medical evacuation,” said Reconquista.

Among others, the CGAG had been actively involved in numerous SARs operations utilizing helicopter and islander in the missing and reported MV Jinshan off the waters of Cape Bojeador; capsized vessel in Itbayat, Batanes; MBCA Mae Jan at Barangay Paltok, Ballesteros, Cagayan; MV Pacific at the vicinity of Roxas, Mindoro; MV Lourdes and the resulting efforts for the distressed SARV 3504 BRP Davao del Norte (BRP 3604), and catastrophic MV Princess of the Stars in Romblon, and for the missing Philippine Air Force S-211 in Palawan and the C-130 aircraft off the Davao Gulf.

The CGAG also conducted six medical evacuations to persons suffering from pains, either aboard ship or on land for this year alone, and also supported the “PGMA Roll-On Roll-Off” (RORO) caravan in Surigao, and the Visayas, respectively, as well as in ferrying medical teams of hyperbanc doctors to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The CGAG also participated in the CARAT Exercise 2008, PASSEX with Indian Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Exercises, Anti-Terrorism Demonstrations/Exercises; Japan International Cooperation Agency, and just late last month, at the ASEAN Regional Disaster-Control Forum at the Manila Bay near the Mall of Asia.

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/201837