[All] Update from the Philippines

[Zavaleta, Jhony R. (ARC-SGG)]

Kamusta ESPO team,

It has been a very productive and positive visit so far. Our trip started with a two back to back days of meetings at Kadena Air Base. Kadena is both, a back up base location as well as a suitcase destination (Singapore and Guam are no longer options). We met with Wing planning, Security Forces, the Working Reception Group, and Airfield Management. Current world events are making Kadena AB a very busy location, and while that might make availability of the on-base lodging very difficult, the support is there for our operations, should it be needed.

Our visit in the Philippines is composed of two parts, Manila and Subic Bay. In Manila we met with the personnel at the US embassy on Friday, December 1st. They were extremely helpful and in their very diplomatic way are very concerned about the appearances regarding our project (to ensure that it doesn't get seen related to DoD in any way). There was also some concern about the possibility of our plane being intercepted by Chinese airplanes during our flight operations.(More on this below).

The following Tuesday we had a lunch-meeting with folks from the US embassy, the Filipino Civil Aviation authorities and Department of Foreign Affairs. Also in the meeting were the representatives of the local research organizations participating in the mission, namely the Manila Observatory and PAGASA. Unfortunately, our WFF pilot couldn't make this trip, there were lots of questions for him. Although we have obtained an approval, it is not the final final final (repetition is not a typo) approval. We have to provide them sets of information (most related to flight plans which will not happen until the STM in January). A follow up trip back to Manila is being considered for the end of February. Mark Russel (CAMP2Ex PIC) is expected to attend that visit.

The Subic in portion has been a lot more streamlined and everyone here is eager to support our operations (still working on the cost, hoping to narrow it down by this coming Monday.) If the price doesn't turn out to be an issue, the facilities available make operating out of Subic Bay really adequate. We would have a hangar that can accommodate both aircraft, and air conditioned office spaces in the same hangar. Furthermore, the airport authorities have also manifested their interest to ensure that our shipments can enter without snags (it helps that Subic and the airport is a duty free zone.)

Brian Yates (WFF) joined us for the Subic portion. Together we met with pilots from the USN reserve currently deployed at Clark AB. We discussed availability of support and the limitations of that support. Long story short, while there is support for GSE that we might need, “borrowing” an engine or prop will probably no happen. WFF is now planning to ship an engine and a prop to Subic Bay, they just got a P-3 for spare parts a couple of weeks ago so they can ship one to Subic and one to Sao Tome.
The pilots mentioned that the intercepts by the Chinese are no big deal, they don't fly recklessly and will probably just go away after a few minutes. Brian mentioned that they had a deployment back in 2003 and were also intercepted, it was a non-issue. Finally, Mark Russel, our PIC is familiar with the area and the flying environment here.

About driving, while drilling in the Manila metropolitan area is a little “challenging”, driving in Subic bay is just like back home. It also applies to the overall state of the city. Manila and Subic Bay are almost like two different countries. Manila is loud, crowded, dirty, and hotels have a lot of security (metal detectors, bomb sniffing dogs, machine gun carrying guards, etc). Subic is quiet, clean, not as polluted (you can actually see the sky).

We will be wrapping up our survey this Monday and head back to Manila on Tuesday. We fly to the states on Wednesday.

Paalam!



Jhony




JHONY R. ZAVALETA
Project Manager - NASA Earth Science Project Office
MS 232-22
Building N232, Room N232-242
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field CA 94035

Office: +1 650-604-0125
Email: jhony.r.zavaleta at nasa.gov<mailto:zavaleta at nasa.gov>
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