Miyerkules, Hulyo 6, 2011

The Philippine Coast Guard Air Group


The Coast Guard Air Group (CGAG) was formally activated on 18 May 1998 during the incumbency of Commodore Manuel de Leon as Commandant, PCG. Accordingly, Commander Noel Monte was designated as its first Commander holding office at the former PADC Hangar Nr. 3, Domestic Airport Complex, Pasay City.


On 22 January 1999, after eight months of existence, CGAG acquired its first aircraft, a BN Islander from the Philippine National Oil Company – Energy Development Corporation (PNOC – EDC). After six months intensive inspection and rehabilitation, it was commissioned into Coast Guard service on 26 June 1999 as PCG–251. On June 1999, the first helicopter, a MBB Bo 105CB was acquired from PADC and was commissioned with the tail number PCG–1636. Another aircraft, a Cessna 421B "Golden Eagle" was acquired without cost from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management sometime in the early part of 2000.
However, due to budgetary constraint, the aircraft rehabilitation was not yet completed up to this date. In the same year, another BN Islander with the tail number PCG–684 was acquired. It was commissioned and activated on June 2002 after it underwent rehabilitation. On 30 March 2001, the helm of the CGAG was transferred to Captain Lino Darbi. In search for a bigger home for its growing inventory, on 21 November 2002, with the support of the SOTC, Pantaleon Alvarez, the Manila International Airport Authority allowed CGAG to occupy this present location. Extensive renovation works were undertaken to make the hangar suitable to be called the nerve center of all Coast Guard Air Operations. On 28 March 2003, the CGAG acquired another Bo 105C helicopter from PADC, aircraft carriers PSN-234 and was commissioned into the service as PCG–145, and PCG-192 during the Group’s 5th Founding Anniversary.


With the intense need to have the capability to extract survivors from water, the said helicopter was fitted with a rescue hoist through the courtesy from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Another significant milestone unfolded the history of the Group when the PCG leadership was turned over to Vice Admiral Arthur Gosingan. Through the intense endorsement of the Commander, CGOF, Rear Admiral Damian Carlos in recognizing the importance of the air unit in coast guard operations and their outstanding accomplishments has granted the aviators their most aspired yearning for their career by approving the Group’s position paper on the Command Pilot Rating. This enables the aviators to have an equal opportunity with officers that acquired a Command at Sea Badge to assume position to higher responsibilities in the Coast Guard hierarchy. Today, the yoke of CGAG was entrusted to Commodore Aaron Reconquista.

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