Philippines TO Upgrade Avionics Systems Of Some C-130 Aircraft

The Philippine Air Force plans to upgrade the avionics system of some of the C-130 aircraft – from analog to digital, integration of glass cockpit, and use of touch screen displays.

The upgrades are part of the PAF’s on-going modernization program of the 220^th air wing, With this transition, dial-driven instrument will soon be a thing in the past, the Philippine Air Force said in a statement Wednesday.

The 220th AW has taken significant strides to make this endeavor a realization. Selected members of the Requirement Definition Technical Working Group (TWG) visited the Wing’s headquarters in Brigadier General Benito N Ebuen Air Base, Lapu-lapu City, Cebu to assess the avionics maintenance system of the three C-130 aircraft. The visit was meant to conduct aircraft configuration assessment, discuss the mission requirements and obsolescence issues, and identify the requirements needed for training and maintenance.

Apart from this, the TWG performed site survey inside the Wing’s hangar, particularly at the avionics and aerospace ground equipment shops, to check if the platforms would be compatible once they are modified. As a response, personnel from the Office of Directorate for Logistics and 470th Maintenance Support Group made a thorough evaluation of the proposed enhancement and presented it to the TWG members.

The completion of this project will definitely boost the Wing's airlift operations now that the demand for the utilization of our C-130 aircraft in the international airspace is very eminent.

In fact, this is one of the identified upgrades in the Wing's Flight Plan 2028. This is also part of its initiatives towards organizational transformation.