The Philippine Aerospace Development Corp. (PADC), in collaboration with Passion Venture Capital and Golden Medjay Defense Inc. (GMDI), unveiled plans to set up an aircraft assembly plant and a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hub inside the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO).
PADC president and chief executive Raymond Mitra said the new initiative positions APECO as the country’s emerging defense and aviation economic hub.
“Through our partnership with APECO, we aim to create an assembly site for the Philippine Falconette, an MRO hub, and a thriving aviation ecosystem where flight training and aerospace industries converge, ultimately producing skilled and proud Filipino pilots,” he said.
PADC showcased the new-generation RV-10 and RV-12 aircraft barely two weeks ago, models that rival traditional small aircraft like the Cessna in performance.
The units, designed for government agencies, private aviation partners, and flight schools, come at competitive prices with a five-year premium MRO service.
“These aircraft require less than a kilometer of runway for takeoff, making them highly adaptable for operations in remote and strategic locations,” Mitra said.
“More importantly, they hold potential as cost-effective surveillance assets over the West Philippine Sea. And soon, they could carry a proudly Filipino brand—the Philippine Falconette,” he said.
The facility is expected to contribute to training Filipino pilots and aerospace professionals, addressing the projected demand for 91,000 pilots in the Asia-Pacific region by 2029.
The aircraft can be used for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, surveillance, and agricultural operations such as cloud seeding and fertilizer spraying.
Mitra also acknowledged APECO for recognizing the strategic importance of the Dinalungan, Casiguran, and Dilasag (DiCaDi) region as a future defense hub.
He said APECO’s location, shielded by the Sierra Madre, presents a natural advantage for national defense infrastructure—particularly amid ongoing geopolitical challenges in the West Philippine Sea.
Established to foster advancements in aerospace, aviation, and land and sea transport sectors, PADC carries the mandate of developing MRO hubs, driving research and facilitating technology transfers.