Airbus Guard helicopters conquered Carpathian airspace
Mountain training of aviators from Alexandria took place at the National Guard training ground near Frankivsk.
A training special assembly with a flight crew on French helicopters EC-225 LP was deployed on the basis of military unit 3072, stationed in the village of Staryi Lisets. This field is the only one in the western region where helicopters can land, and where specialized training for flying in mountain conditions is started every year.
During the training, the pilots practice landing in the mountains in difficult conditions at an altitude of 1000 and 1500 meters.
“We make up to 10 flights every day,” says pilot-navigator Taras Bezbach, “we fly in different weather conditions in order to gain different experience. Mountain training has been held every year since 2016. This year, only EC-225 LP helicopters were involved for the first time. They have already shown themselves very well in the mountains. The specificity of the flights is such that the air in the mountains is sparse and more engine power is required.”
Such helicopters are designed to perform landing and transport tasks. The vehicles, which can take up to 20 people on board, are used in three situations — for transporting personnel, disembarking and for evacuating the wounded. In each case, the helicopter has a separate body kit — such as landing ropes or sanitary modules.
According to the senior helicopter technician Artem Yakovchuk, Airbus maintenance is more convenient than the MI-8 Vertolite.
“Speedier, more maneuverable, technically convenient,” Artem Yakovchuk lists the advantages of French helicopters, “in order to switch from the MI-8 to the E-225 LP you need to relearn. The technical and flight crew went to France for training and have been flying successfully for two years.”
Artem Yakovchuk also studied in France and received a certificate of admission to Airbus maintenance.
“At first there were some difficulties, because everything was new for us,” says the technician, “but as day after day we learned more, had more practice - they realized that there is really nothing complicated. We are quite competitive, on a par with our French counterparts.”
The head of the aviation link Denis Yurik adds that both experienced national guards and young helicopter pilots take part in the exercises. Those who have the practice of flying in the mountains recover the skills. And those who come for the first time to special mountain meetings are learning hard.
“Young pilots are fully prepared for flying, but in mountainous terrain — for the first time. The training program says that each pilot must practice landing in the highlands. If a task arrives, the pilot must complete it. He should be able to sit in the mountains on a platform selected from the air (determine where you can sit, make a pass over the site, that is, inspect it, and optimally perform the landing), - said Denis Yurik.
As part of the signed contract between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and Airbus Helicopters SAS, 55 helicopters of French production should arrive in Ukraine — H125 for the State Border Service of Ukraine; H145 for the National Police of Ukraine; H225 for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine. All aircraft are different and adapted to perform various tasks of the units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs: aeromedical evacuation, rescue operations, maintaining public order, anti-terrorist and special operations, maintaining security at state borders and maintaining order on the roads.
Press service of NGU
