Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation

Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation
Industry Aerospace and Defence manufacturing
Founded September 5, 1973
Headquarters Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Key people
 Gilbert S. Rueras
(President/CEO)
Rene G. Abad
(Director)
Website padc.com.ph

The Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC) is a Philippine state owned aerospace and defence technology corporation.

History

The corporation was established on September 5, 1973 by the virtue of Presidential Decree No. 286, which was issued by then-President Ferdinand Marcos.[1][2] The decree served as the charter of the corporation was revised through Presidential Decree No. 696 issued by Marcos on May 9, 1975.[3]

The mandate of the firm is to establish a "reliable aviation and aerospace industry" in the Philippines, design, manufacture and sell "all forms" of aircraft, as well as to develop indigenous capabilities in the maintenance, repair, and modification of aviation equipment.[4]

It attempted to develop local aircraft such as the PADC Hummingbird helicopter and the PADC Defiant single-engine trainer in the 1980s but the programs were scrapped due to licensing issues and lack of government support.[1]

Following a meeting of the Governance Commission for GOCCs in late 2017, PADC is set to be abolished. Those present in the meeting views that PADC has failed its mandate particularly in successfully designing a plane for the last 45 years.[1]

A PADC director, Rene Abad, has called for the PADC’s ‘revitalization’ instead, to contribute to the country’s development and security. [5]

In March 2018, the Department of Transportation signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of National Defense for the transfer of the PADC from the former to the latter.[6]

Prototypes

  • PADC Defiant 300 - is the first PADC developed Philippine light aircraft. A single prototype was made and the aircraft had its first test flight in 1987. It's fuselage is made of wood and fibreglass and had a Lycoming engine with a capacity of 300 horsepower. The project was abandoned due to lack of government funds.[7]
  • PADC Hummingbird - a prototype helicopter developed from the 1980s to the 1990s which is considered as a copy of MBB Bo 105 of Eurocopter. The project was terminated due to the design being too lengthy and expensive, and design licensing issues.[7]

Clients

PADC lists the following firms and agencies as its clients:[8]

Government
Aviation schools
  • Ace Pilots Aviation Academy
  • Airlink International Aviation College
  • All Asia Aviation Academy
  • AMA/Delta International Aviation Academy
  • A.P.G International Aviation Academy Inc.
  • Aviair Aviation School
Other

References

  1. 1 2 3 Carabello, Mayvelin (28 December 2017). "State-owned aerospace company to be abolished". The Manila Times. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "Presidential Decree No. 286, s. 1973". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 5 September 1973. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "Presidential Decree No. 696, s. 1975". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 9 May 1975. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC)". Civil Aeronautics Board. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "PADC director calls for state-owned firm's 'revitalization'". The Manila Times. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  6. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/DOTrPH/posts/1057167721089030
  7. 1 2 "Philippines to close aerospace agency for inactivity". The Gulf Today. Indo-Asian News Service. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "Client". Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
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