The Philippine Air Force (PAF), alongside the US Hawaii National Guard (HING), is conducting joint aircraft maintenance exercises in Cebu as part of the Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) program between the two countries.
“We conduct this every year with various fields involved under the Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) of the Philippines and the US,” PAF Spokesperson Colonel Maria Consuelo Castillo told Manila Standard.
“Right now we are conducting the PAF with US in Subject Matter Expert Exchange on Maintenance of aircraft, this is currently happening in Cebu from 16 September to 20,” she added.
The activity involves 35 PAF maintenance personnel and 13 HING personnel, utilizing one S70i BlackHawk helicopter for exchange of expertise.
Castillo explained that the activity significantly impacts PAF’s operational readiness and maintenance capabilities.
“These efforts benefit the PAF by fostering opportunities to achieve interoperability while maximizing the utilization of their Sikorsky S-70i Blackhawk aircraft for national defense and disaster response efforts.”
