Pinoy Aviators (2025)

21/07/2025

STUDENT PILOTS ATTITUDE IN TRAINING

How a few small changes in mindset can lead to much safer pilots.

Pilots are imperfect by design. We’re human, after all. On any given flight, a pilot is faced with dozens of interrelated decisions that guide the airplane to its destination, hopefully intact and without incident. Most of the time, we make good decisions and our flights end safely, even if we execute some elements of the flight imperfectly — a missed radio call or a less than smooth landing, for example. However, multiple mistakes coupled with poor decisions can form “the accident chain” that is the foundation of nearly every National Transportation Safety Board accident report.

If poor decisions are at the root of aviation accidents, how can flight instructors and their students work together to make better decisions on the ground and in the air? Unfortunately, some people are unwilling or incapable of changing their behavior, and it is the job of the flight instructor to recognize these potentially dangerous individuals and use the power of the pen to keep them grounded until they either change or stop flying — for example, refuse to sign off a flight review or endorse a student for solo. Most pilots can learn and change their behavior though, and a good flight instructor will use his or her experience to recognize and correct the following five hazardous attitudes, as defined by the Aviation Authority.

• ANTI-AUTHORITY

This is the easiest hazardous behavior to recognize, but by far the most difficult to change. Take, for example, a student pilot who is training in an airplane he owns. He is a natural pilot who handles the airplane with ease and quickly demonstrates proficiency in all of the required pre-solo maneuvers. He takes good care of his airplane and conducts thorough preflight inspections. However, his disrespect for authority became evident when he repeatedly flew solo well beyond his 90-day endorsement. His instructor had several conversations with him about this, but he refused to listen. The student failed his aviation authority private pilot knowledge test on the first try and gave up on studying after that. Unless he changes his attitude, he’ll never pass his check ride. At best, he might one day get ramp checked, or at worst, he might break a rule that could lead to an accident, like scud-running into an obstacle.

• IMPULSIVITY

This is the most common behavior among new students, and fortunately, one of the easiest to correct with proper training. When students are nervous, they often rush through checklist items without really thinking through what they are doing. A good instructor can help the student relax and teach them the benefits of slowly and methodically working through a checklist so that they don’t miss any important items. Pilots who are returning to the cockpit after a long absence might also feel anxious because it’s been years since they’ve worked with an instructor and they are trying to do things from memory. These pilots might have never used a checklist during their initial flight training, so checklist usage may be completely new to them.

• INVULNERABILITY

Despite the number of auto accidents resulting from texting and driving, a pilot would be hard pressed not to observe another driver texting while on the way to the airport. The pilot might also be one of those drivers who thinks that because they’ve been texting and driving without incident ever since they got a smartphone, they’ll never become a statistic. This “it won’t happen to me” attitude can lead to disaster if the pilot takes unnecessary risks while flying. A good flight instructor should evaluate a pilot’s ability to conduct a risk-management assessment, and show them examples of what can happen when pilots fly beyond the limits of their airplanes and their own abilities.

• MACHO

We’ve all met “that guy” at a fly-in pancake breakfast, convention or flying club meeting: the pilot who won’t stop talking about himself and who thinks he’s the best stick in the room. A flight instructor working with such a pilot, regardless of the pilot’s experience level, would be wise to provide him with an opportunity to demonstrate a weakness in his knowledge, skill or both. This is often a challenge for a low-time, young CFI working with a pilot who may have soloed decades before the CFI was even born. But with patience, respect and careful planning, an instructor can show the “macho” pilot that he is not Bob Hoover after all, and in fact, could stand to learn a thing or two about flying.

• RESIGNATION

People who are passive by nature and have a hard time making decisions are at risk for getting themselves into situations that they’re not capable of handling. However, with proper training and encouragement from a good flight instructor, these pilots can benefit tremendously both in aviation and in their lives away from the airport. The student who repeatedly asks the instructor for validation before performing an action can learn to be assertive and proactive, and in turn become a much happier and more confident pilot. There is nothing quite as satisfying for a flight instructor as seeing a tentative student pilot blossom into a confident pilot in command.

If instructors are mindful to watch for the warning signs of these common negative attitudes during training, the results can lead to pilots who are safer and better at managing risk.

Meredith Holladay (flyingmag.com)

Photo shared by Cougar 354 🦅🇵🇭
Philippine Air Force Flying School

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19/07/2025

THE HUEY ANGEL IN TANGERINE

"The courage of a rescuer isn't measured by the danger faced, but by the difference they make in someone's life... The things we do, so others may live."

- Legend

A Huey rescue angel is also a crewman tasked with a huge responsibility. The actual role will vary depending on the task given on a particular mission. These Angels in tangerine from the 505th Search and Rescue Group of the Philippine Air Force, were astonishingly accurate, and could quickly change their roles from rescuers to helicopter mechanics (Aircrew).

A helicopter aircrew members assist in flight operations, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew, and performing mission-specific tasks specifically in search and rescue and medical evacuation.

The job of a helicopter rescue crew involves a range of roles focused on providing emergency assistance in challenging environments. These roles often require specialized skills in areas like search and rescue, emergency medical services, and winching operations. Key positions include Rescue Crew Officers, Winch Operators, and various aircrew positions.

This role is responsible for the safe and efficient management of the helicopter's rear cabin during flight operations, as well as performing technical tasks like rappelling, sling loading, and winching.

A Huey II helicopter aircrew/rescuer from the 505th Search and Rescue Group of the Philippine Air Force during Cope Thunder Philippines 25-2, through close collaboration with the Pacific Air Forces, USAF Pararescue Jumpers and Aircrew engaged in high-impact training that significantly enhanced their ability to conduct Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions across land, air, and maritime environments.

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18/07/2025

505th Search and Rescue Group, Philippine Air Force

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18/07/2025

"THE MENTORS OF THE SKY"
(The Skies Have Teachers Too)

An Air Force Instructor Pilot (IP) is a highly trained professional dedicated to passing on the lessons learned from decades of military aviation experience to the Philippines' next generation of air warriors.

The IP provides Flight or Simulator and Platform Academic instruction to all Philippine Air Force Student Pilots. They combine their experience with the Air Force curriculum to produce pilots in an array of instructional platforms that include flight simulation, virtual reality, computer-assisted learning, and airborne instruction.

The IPs job is to nurture the transition of a casual officer into becoming a world-class aviator. Instructor pilots feed the fight directly and have a significant role, not only in the Air Force but in the Department of Defense as a whole.

At the Philippine Air Force Flying School (PAFFS) in Fernando Air Base, a huge number of instructor pilots are responsible for graduating close to a hundred student officer pilots a year from programs such as basic Military Pilot Training (MPT).

These Instructor Pilots from the 101st Wildcat Squadron, 102nd Cougar Squadron and 103rd Raven Squadron of the PAFFS, are more than teachers — they are craftsmen of courage, engineers of precision, and mentors of the next generation of Air Warriors.

In the 101st Pilot Training Squadron "Wildcats", the Instructor Pilots of the Cessna T-41B,D,K Mescalero basic training aircraft become the students' first link to the skies. Through steady hands and firm commands, they teach takeoffs, landings, and the sacred basics of flying. Every stall recovery. Every pattern flown. Every debrief. It’s the Wildcats who teach them not just how to fly — but how to never stop learning.

The 102nd Pilot Training Squadron "Cougars", flying the fierce and more maneuverable SIAI-Marchetti SF260FH single engine aircraft, the Instructor Pilots turn fledglings into flyers. Formation flying. Aerobatics. Spin recoveries. Long-range navigation. Learning to fly with the cougars, precision isn’t just expected — it’s demanded... And with the Cougars? They lead by example, guiding students through the toughest flights with calm authority and unmatched skill.

At the 103rd Pilot Training Squadron "Ravens", these Instructor Pilots lay the intellectual foundation of aviation. With sharp minds and sharper standards, they challenge students to think like pilots long before they ever fly. Every calculation, every procedure, every regulation — they drill the discipline that saves lives.

"These Air Force Instructor Pilots of the PAFFS are the backbone of airpower... They fly not for glory, but for legacy... They teach not just flying — but resilience, responsibility, and the will to defend. They correct, challenge, and inspire... And when it’s time, they salute as their students soar beyond."

"In the Philippine Air Force Flying School… the highest calling isn’t just to fly, it’s to teach others how... And these are the Mentors of Air Power."

"Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear flight suits and teach from 5,000 feet above the ground."

-Cougar354 🦅🇵🇭

The Mentors of the Philippine Air Force Flying School don’t just produce pilots, they build warriors who shape the sky.

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15/07/2025

A DREAM TAKES FLIGHT

Another milestone to a female law enforcer who joined the family of aviators and aviatrices after earning her rotary pilot wings flying the Airbus H125 Helicopter, previously the Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil, or Squirrel, single-engine light utility law enforcement helicopter of the Philippine National Police Air Unit.

It was a childhood dream come true while in a quiet but extraordinary moment of triumphs to Police/Captain Nerisa Jean Vargas Allawan PNP, who's a proud member of the Philippine National Police Academy Class of 2020. She has achieved what few dare to dream—earning her rotary-wing pilot rating and becoming a licensed helicopter pilot, certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Police/Captain Nerisa Vargas, is the only female pilot and the only rotary-wing (Helicopter) pilot in the PNPA "Mandayug" Class of 2020. Her journey to the aviation world was not built on noise, but on consistency, silent determination, and a relentless discipline.

Amid the grueling hours of flying training, the mental demands of aviation study, and the physical rigor of flight simulations and real-time missions, she never sought to stand out... She simply focused on rising... And yes, she did it not just into the skies, but above expectations, indeed!

As a young girl watching helicopters flying over to her hometown, and now she's living in her dreams sitting in the cockpit holding the stick and collector... Her path is proof that dreams are not just imagined—they are earned.

Her certification as a CAAP-licensed helicopter pilot marks more than personal success—it represents the breaking of barriers and the opening of doors for more women in the aviation rotary wing community and law enforcement.

Being part of the Philippine National Police Air Unit, she stands ready to serve in the air. But she carries more than just technical skills... She carries with her the quiet strength of someone who dared to be the first, so others would no longer have to be... She is now part of the few civilian female helicopter pilots of the General Aviation in the Philippines, flying under the rotary wings of law enforcement... With a grateful heart and with a driven personality... She's now ready to fly under the rotors of the Police Airbus H125 helicopter.

Pnp AirUnit 🇵🇭

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14/07/2025

TOPFLITE ACADEMY FLIGHT TRAINING TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED

The Topflite Academy of Aviation Inc. (TAAI) flight training was put to seven days suspension by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) following an incident involving one of its training aircraft that crashed near an agricultural area at Purok 4, Sitio Corocan, Barangay Lipay-Dingin-Panibutan, just near Iba Airport (RPUI) in the province of Zambales on 11 July 2025.

The Cessna 172M Skyhawk training aircraft with tail number RP-C2211 had departed from Iba Airport at approximately 0857 (8:57 AM) for a local training flight when the incident occurred approximately 0931H PhST on Friday in Purok 4, Sitio Corocan.

Onboard RP-C2211 were four individuals who are all Filipino citizens and were identified on the manifest list as:

Captain Jacques Robert Papio (GenAv)
Topflite Academy, Flight Instructor

Student pilot Angelo Josh Quinsayas
Topflite Academy of Aviation Inc

Student pilot Jericho Bernardo Palma
Topflite Academy of Aviation Inc

Student pilot Kisses Nunez Althea
Topflite Academy of Aviation Inc

These four individuals were rescued and brought to the President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital for medical treatment by responding personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Iba, Zambales. The Cessna 172 training aircraft suffered considerable damage, to the full extent and cost still being assessed.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has launched an investigation into the incident. Flight training operations for Topflite Academy have been temporarily suspended as part of the probe.

In line with the ongoing investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB), CAAP has also administratively grounded the flight instructor and student pilots involved to ensure an impartial inquiry. In addition, CAAP has summoned TAAI’s Quality Manager, Safety Manager, flight instructor, student pilots, and other relevant personnel to provide an explanation regarding the incident.

Topflite Academy of Aviation Inc. made an official statement regarding the incident involving one of its training aircraft... That their flight training operations have been voluntarily suspended for seven days as a precautionary measure.

"Today, our pilots drew on their training and composure and walked away with their lives and their story," - Topflite Management

TAAI’s management also expressed their gratitude to the first responders, local residents, and aviation partners for their swift assistance, and assured full cooperation with authorities investigating the incident.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
PNP Aviation Security Group

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13/07/2025

STARTING AS A CHARTER OR CORPORATE PILOT BEFORE JOINING THE AIRLINES?

A Charter and Corporate Pilot flies fare paying passengers "anywhere, any time", but usually for short trips over varying routes in single engine or light twin-engine aircraft.

These types of pilots fly passengers and cargo as service demands, but normally in daylight hours, if the aircraft is a single-engine plane. Flights are mostly of short duration and pilots can count on returning home at the end of the working day. If the pilot works for a company with a fleet of aircraft, he or she may fly on regular schedules over the same routes, much like a small airline. Pilots may be required to wear a uniform when on duty.

For many professional pilots, the ultimate job is to be an airline captain. The pay can be very good; the top salary at some major airlines. And benefits for pilots, as well as many other airline employees, include travel passes. While the various kinds of piloting jobs involve a variety of special circumstances, there are also a number of conditions that are common to all pilots.

All pilots flying for hire have progressed through a flight training program and have earned a commercial pilot's license or an airline transport rating. Most likely they will also have one or more advanced ratings, such as instrument, multi-engine or aircraft type ratings, depending upon the requirements of their particular flying jobs.

A pilot's "office" is the cockpit which contains all controls, instruments, and electronic communication and navigation equipment necessary to operate the aircraft. Some noise and vibration are noticeable, particularly in propeller aircraft. They have a concern for safety, including the safe condition or airworthiness of the plane; weather factors affecting the safety of the flight; flight regulations; air traffic control procedures, and air navigational aids designed to provide maximum safety in the air.

They must undergo frequent physical examinations and meet certain medical standards which vary according to the license which the pilot holds. A Class I Medical Certificate requires the highest standards for vision, hearing, equilibrium, and general physical condition. The pilot must have an exceptionally good health history with no evidence of organic and nervous diseases or mental disorders. A Class II Medical Certificate is less rigid, but still requires a high degree of physical health and an excellent medical history. A Class III Medical Certificate has the least stringent physical requirements. All three classes of medical certificates allow the pilot to wear glasses provided the correction is within the prescribed limits of vision. Drug addiction and/or chronic alcoholism disqualify any applicant.

The greater the number of flying hours and the more complex the flying skills, the more varied are the opportunities for advancement as a pilot. There are many chances to transfer from one kind of pilot job to another as flying hours are accumulated and additional skills are mastered. Frequently, pilots double as flight instructors and charter pilots.

Working for charters or corporate flights, you can have time off interrupted. Sometimes work as a charter can be less frequent - i.e. more times not working. But most pilots that do that work for more than one employer and can stay busy. It’s totally different work. On the charter, you can work with passengers who think they own you. You have to love flying, and you have to be well prepared. You can do well with free time and pay either way.

Cessna Grand Caravan pilots from Sky Pasada of the General Aviation in the Philippines having some breaks while on a Charter flight mission.

Tintin Costelo: Up in the Clouds

Balance Careers
Charter Pilots Life
General Aviation

Photo courtesy of FO Tintin Costelo (SkyPasada)
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12/07/2025

THE BLUEBIRDS OF THE PRESIDENT

The 250th Presidential Airlift Wing "Bluebirds” of the Philippine Air Force, provide air transport for the President, the first family, and for visiting dignitaries and VIP's.

The Bluebirds specific functions include:

Providing aircraft and aircrew for airlift of the President, immediate members of his/her family, visiting Heads of states and other local and foreign VIPs; conducting proficiency training of aircrew and support personnel; operating and maintaining common aviation assets of the Government Financial Institutions (GFIs); performing limited maintenance of assigned aircraft; performs liaison or coordination of aircraft requirements for presidential flights; coordinating with appropriate agencies for field and depot level maintenance of assigned aircraft; providing command and control and communication in advance base operations for presidential flights; providing presidential security augmentation; assigning safety pilot for VIP movement abroad; and performing other functions as directed by higher Headquarters.

The 250th Presidential Airlift Wing is stationed at Villamor Air Base, located near the Presidential Palace in Manila.

The callsign "Kalayaan 1" is used by the unit in a similar way as the term "Air Force 1" in the United States, designated an aircraft with the President of the Republic of the Philippines on board.

The 250th Presidential Airlift Wing traces its lineage back to 1947, when the Philippine Air Force was tasked to provide air transportation to the President of the Republic of the Philippines, his/her Family and State Guests pursuant to General Orders Number 228, General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines , dated 24 October 1947.

As a consequence, one Squadron of then 205th Composite Wing was tasked to provide one C-47 as the primary aircraft with pilots and crew. The C-47 was subsequently replaced in 1959 by the Fokker F-27 Friendship as the primary aircraft.

The Philippine Air Force, realizing the importance of an air arm to support Presidential movements, began studies in 1965 for the organization of a special unit exclusively for presidential airlift mission under the operational control of the Presidential Security Unit (PSU).

This led to the decision to integrate the basic operations, security, maintenance, and support elements into one compact unit. The 7001st Detachment was activated on 2 September 1968, pursuant to General Orders Number 16, Headquarters, Philippine Air Force, dated 20 August 1968. The Detachment was formed from some personnel detached from the 206th Troop Carrier Squadron and 505th Air Rescue Squadron. The unit was initially assigned one C-47 and one Sikorsky S-62 helicopter, the latter to be used as a backup.

In August 1969, 3 UH-1H Helicopters were acquired by the Detachment and the unit was also placed under the direct control of the Commanding General, Philippine Air Force for administrative and logistics requirements. Due to the increasing number of personnel and equipment, this unit was redesignated as 7001st Presidential Airlift Squadron on 13 April 1972.

On 10 December 1974, the unit was upgraded to a Wing, being designated the 700th Special Mission Wing, pursuant to General Orders Number 234, Headquarters, Philippine Air Force. The Wing consisted of 6 Squadrons: the Headquarters Administrative Services, 701st Special Airlift Squadron, and 702nd Special Mission Squadron, 703rd Security Squadron, 704th Field Maintenance Squadron and 705th Supply Services Squadron.

In 1979, the Central Bank of the Philippines purchased two (2) SA-330 Puma helicopters. A single Fokker F-28 Fellowship was purchased in 1980. These aircraft were assigned to the 700th Special Mission Wing for the use of then President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.

In 1981, three (3) Bell 205A-1 helicotpers replaced the three (3) UH-1H Huey helicopters being used by the 700th Special Mission Wing.

In 1984, the Philippine Air Force acquired 17 helicopters from Sikorsky. Among these, three (3) S-76A firebirds and two (2) S-70A-5 Blackhawk helicopters were assigned to 700th Special Mission Wing to serve as support aircraft's for presidential requirements.

Several changes were implemented after the 1986 People Power Revolution. The 700th Special Mission Wing was redesignated as the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing on 10 July 1986, pursuant to General Orders Number 211, Headquarters, Philippine Air Force. The units subordinate squadrons were also redesignated as the 251st Special Airlift Squadron, 252nd Special Airlift Mission Squadron, 253rd Security Squadron, 254th Field Depot Maintenance Squadron and 255th Supply Services Squadron.

The Wing was once again redesignated and reorganized as the 250th Special Airlift Wing, pursuant to General Orders Number 260, dated 24 June 1998. The objective of the redesignation and reorganization was to make both more relevant to the unit's mandated mission. The 250th Special Airlift Wing consisted of the 252nd Presidential Airlift Squadron, 253rd Presidential Airlift Squadron, 258th Security Squadron, 259th Supply and Support and 260th Field Maintenance Squadron.

Eventually the unit was again redesignated as the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing. This unit consisted of 7 Squadrons: the Headquarters Squadron, 251st Presidential Airlift Squadron (Fixed Wing), 252nd Presidential Airlift Squadron (Rotary), 253rd Special Airlift Squadron, 254th Supply Support Squadron, 255th Field Maintenance Squadron, and 256th Security Squadron.

With the enactment of the Bases Conversion Development and Modernization Program, the Bluebirds of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing finally found a more permanent base in December 1999, in a more spacious and secured area adjacent to Manila International Airport.

The 250th Presidential Airlift Wing was eventually relocated to Villamor Air Base.

A Philippine Air Force presidential pilot from the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing with the new "Kalayaan One" the Gulfstream G280 twin-engine jet built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Photo courtesy of:
Presidential Airlift Wing
SAGRA Aviation Photography

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11/07/2025

"THE 6th FLYING COBRAS ARE BACK"

The 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron also known as the “COBRA” of the 5th Fighter Wing, Philippine Air Force, is the primary fighter squadron of the fighter town.

It was on 24 October 1947, when the 6th fighter squadron was activated under the 5th Fighter Group at that time... The flying COBRAS, were first equipped with the F-51D Mustang aircraft before the jet era. The fighter group was commanded by Major Benito Ebuen, the 5th Fighter Group then originally had nine (9) Stinson L-5 Sentinel aircraft, one (1) C-47 and eighteen (18) North American Aviation P-51 Mustang aircraft. By 1950, fifty (50) more P-51 Mustangs, and twenty two (22) Beechcraft T-6 Texan aircraft were added to bolster the training of fighter pilots.

Starting in 1947 and ending in 1955, the 6th fighter squadron extensively conducted a pacification campaign against the Hukbalahap communist rebels in Central Luzon and the Tausug forces of Datu Hadji Kamlon in Southern Mindanao.

In early 1953, permission was obtained to form an aerobatic squadron... It was originally composed of 4 fighter pilots from the 6th Fighter Squadron. The first performance of the four Cobra fighter pilots wowed crowds with performances during a Philippine air show in November 1953, then In 1954, these selected elite Cobra fighter pilots from the 6th Fighter Squadron were officially named the Blue Diamonds of the Philippines aerobatics team, in reference to the blue skies in which the Philippine Air Force operates. The elite flying COBRAS of the Blue Diamond Team were known for their tight flying diamond formation... The 4 aircraft unit typically executed daredevil maneuvers during their aerobatic sorties, then the team added a fifth aircraft by the end of 1954. The flying COBRAS "Blue Diamond" was considered a sub-squadron of the 6th Fighter Squadron, and their planes bore the markings of the latter.

The 5th Fighter Wing ushered in the jet age for the Air Force when it traded its propeller-driven P-51 mustangs for T-33s jet trainer aircraft and the Korean war-tested F-86F Sabre jet fighters in 1957. It was the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron who first entered into the jet age when fighter pilots from the flying COBRAS were sent to the United States to train flying the T-33 jet trainers then later on they flew the F-86 Saber jets.

The Air Force entered into the supersonic jet age in 1965 when the Philippine government acquired the Northrop F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighters for the 5th Fighter Wing. The fighter pilots from the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron were sent to the United States to train flying the F-5 freedom fighters.

The F-5A/B freedom fighters were assigned under the wings of the 6th Fighter Squadron. As a result the Cobras of the 5th Fighter Wing became the spearhead of air defense, mainly responsible for air reconnaissance, interdiction and ground support.

During the 01 December 1989 bloody Coup d'état against the administration of Corazon Aquino, the 5th Fighter Wing at Basa Air Base remained in the hands of pro-government forces. On the first day of fighting, a flight of three (3) F-5A's from the 6th fighter squadron took off from Basa Air Base and strafed the rebel soldiers (RAM-SFP-YOU) held at Sangley Point, destroying several planes and seriously damaging the coup plotters' air capabilities.

The squadron commander "Cobra Commander" of the 6th fighter squadron, then Major Danilo Atienza (Philippine Air Force Flying School class 1974), crashed during his final strafing and was killed instantly after his F-5 hit the 15th Strike Wing armory just near the building of the 16th and 25th attack squadrons. The following day, Cobra pilots without their king cobra flew their F-5A's from Basa AB and struck rebel ground troops and vehicles at Camp Aguinaldo. The 1989 bloody Coup d'état was over on the third day.

On 2 May 2002 an F-5A freedom fighter piloted by then Capt. Daniel T. Policarpio (Philippine Air Force Flying School Class 1994), crashed during the annual United States and Philippines Balikatan military exercises killing him instantly. The decision of the Philippine Air Force higher command was made to ground the entire fleet for safety and cost reasons.

It was on 01 April 2005, when the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron was deactivated following the retirement of the F-5A/B fleet, including those received from Taiwan and South Korea without any replacement on 02 October 2005.

But just as a cobra sheds its skin to grow stronger, on the 11th of July 2025, the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Cobra" was officially reactivated in a momentous ceremony led by the Commanding General, Philippine Air Force, Lieutenant General Arthur M Cordura PAF, at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, Manila—reviving a squadron that once ruled the skies with precision, pride, and an unyielding bite.

Moreover, the 5th Fighter Wing unleashed a new chapter of air power as the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron, headed by the Wing Commander of the 5th Fighter Wing, Brigadier General Leo A Fontanilla PAF, welcomed its new Squadron Commander, Major Ronholph S Ausa PAF, during the Assumption of Command Ceremony at Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga.

The cobra doesn’t just hiss—it strikes. And after nearly two decades, the 6TFS returns to active service, shedding the past and emerging more lethal and resolute than ever—recharged with renewed strength, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to defend and dominate the skies of our nation.

The flying COBRAS will be welcomed by the fighting eagles today and the dedicated MRF tomorrow. 🦅🐍 🇵🇭

Congratulations Major Ronholph S. Ausa PAF, from BULLDOG to KING COBRA!!! 🦅 🇵🇭

Fly the snakes 🐍

5th Fighter Wing, Air Defense Command

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