Helicopter Deck-Landing Training on BRP Tarlac Set by Philippine Navy (PN)

Philippine Navy (PN) helicopters, mostly the newly-acquired AgustaWestland utility and attack units, will start their deck-landing qualification (DLQ) training on the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) after June 1.

This was stressed by PN spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna in a message to the PNA Tuesday.

"DLQ (training) will start after June 1 (the scheduled commissioning date of BRP Tarlac, the country's first strategic sealift vessel)," he added.

DLQ training involves actually deck landing of the helicopters and crews to receive and maintain these aerial assets.The PN operates three AgustaWestland AW-109E utility units and two of its attack versions.

The BRP Tarlac is capable of housing three helicopters, with two on the helideck and one on its hangar deck.The ship can carry a payload of 2,800 tons. BRP Tarlac's gross tonnage is placed at 7,300 tons.

The PN earlier announced that the BRP Tarlac can accommodate 500 troops, two rigid-hull inflatable boats, two landing craft units and three helicopters.The ship has an overall length of 120 meters, breadth of 21 meters, draft of five meters and carry a payload of 2,800 tons.

She has a cruising speed of 13 knots and maximum speed of 16 knots.The BRP Tarlac was one of two SSVs acquired from PT PAL (Persero) for the sum of PHP3.8 billion.

Her sister-ship is expected to arrive by May 2017.