Advancing Peacekeeping Projects through Civil Aircraft Integration
CHC Helicopter
CHC Helicopter provides unmatched helicopter services including transportation, Search and Rescue deployment, and MRO.
By Sonia Le Quilleuc
In recent years, the landscape of humanitarian aid and peacekeeping missions has undergone significant evolution. The pressing need for timely, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions has become increasingly apparent, and rotary wing aircraft have played an increasingly pivotal role in providing agile, safe and effective assistance.?
While Russian-leased helicopters have historically featured heavily for such missions, the conflict in Ukraine has meant dozens of these aircraft have been grounded and are facing significant supply chain constraints. They represent a sizeable expense regardless of whether the aircraft are being used. A new approach is needed.
There is an opportunity for intergovernmental agencies to capitalise on the advantages offered by civil aircraft, marking a paradigm shift towards more efficient and reliable operations.
Civil aircraft are renowned for their exceptional performance capabilities, including payload capacity, longer flight ranges, and improved fuel efficiency. By harnessing the capabilities of these aircraft, intergovernmental agencies can significantly expand their operational capacity, enabling them to reach remote and inaccessible areas that were previously out of reach.
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There is also an opportunity to capitalise on the well-established infrastructure of global operators. The ability to draw on global fleets, crews and equipment can ensure consistent and reliable turnarounds to meet the unique challenges of humanitarian and peacekeeping missions, wherever they are in the world.
Global operators also adhere to stringent maintenance and safety standards, ensuring our fleets are always in optimal condition. This level of reliability translates into reduced downtime and increased availability, empowering us to respond swiftly to unfolding crises without being hindered by operational setbacks.
The improved fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance requirements of modern civil aircraft contribute to significant efficiency savings over time, particularly when combined with new technological advancements that OEMs and operators are implementing. At CHC for example, we have developed proprietary flight planning software, ClearSkies, able to map the most fuel-efficient routes for missions, delivering verified reductions in CO2 emissions.
Finally, embracing civil aircraft provided by global operators opens avenues for international cooperation and fosters enhanced global connectivity. By partnering with renowned operators like CHC, agencies can tap into our extensive network and expertise, gaining access to cutting-edge technologies and best practices from around the world.
We have worked diligently at creating robust long-standing partnerships with our customers and suppliers alike. Our long-standing, 17+ year relationship with OEM’s Sikorsky, Leonardo and Airbus are evidence of mutual trust and understanding that we can mirror with intergovernmental agencies. Our network of client partnerships stretches across northeast Europe, the African continent, and Australia. Demonstrating proven capability of operating across long distances, challenging terrains and a dynamic deployment portfolio.
The potential benefits associated with transitioning from Russian helicopters to civil aircraft provided by global operators are numerable. Together, we can realise the advantages and opportunities that await us in the realm of humanitarian assistance and revolutionise the way we approach peacekeeping projects.?
Sales Director at CHC Helicopter | Customer Negotiations, Sales Leadership
1 年Great article, Sonia! In fact, the opportunity for intergovernmental agencies to benefit from advantages offered by civil aircraft, will bring much more efficiency and reliable operations!
Aerospace professional with a technical background and managerial experience.
1 年Now if the industry can just get the current supply chain constraints sorted, operators and lessors won’t have to resort to cannibalizing aircraft for critical components, taking many of these badly-needed aircraft out of service.
What a fantastic summary Sonia. This is an exciting opportunity for governmental agencies to significantly enhance their missions in various geographies around the world.
AH175 Captain, Sk92 Captain and type rating examiner (UK&EASA)
1 年Let’s do it!
AWSAR S92 Pilot at CHC Ireland
1 年Having previously served on a UN mission where the ability to move people and things by air was essential, I can’t agree with this enough. While the benefits to the logs movement side of the house is obvious where the local infrastructure is poor, it was the Medevac capability that really underwrote the success of the operation - by having helis ( and fixed wing ) available 24/7, we could keep troops within the specified requirements for clinical care even when on long range patrols. Their radius of action on the ground was determined in some ways by ‘the Golden Hour’ .This meant that they were able to range much further out than the immediate surroundings of their own FOBs, and thus actually be present and seen in a greater number of villages. The greater airspeed of the newer western types over the older Russian types currently used increases the actual distance on the ground that the ‘ Golden Hour’ represents. This puts a greater number of people overall under the protection of the deployed peacekeepers. As an area of civil/military cooperation, this one has much to offer.