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“Their training center is probably the best in the world. They have a great base for theoretical training, equipped classrooms, models and hangars. If we had a question, we went to a real helicopter and received an answer. We were there for over a month,” Commander of the Airbus H225 super Puma Helicopter Anton Mykhaliuk said.
Anton says that the new helicopter has the best characteristics in its category. The autopilot mode helps to maintain a safe altitude. In addition to 24 passengers, the cabin can hold medical equipment and a 4,000-liter water tank.
“With this helicopter, we can carry out all sorts of missions and operations. Medical evacuation, fire extinguishing and transportation of victims in any state, allowed by our medical equipment. The main thing is that it can land in very difficult conditions,” Mykhaliuk said.
This helicopter will be given to the Ukrainian State Emergency Service, another one – to the National Guard. This is the first handover in the framework of a French-Ukrainian program aimed at creating a Single System of Aviation Security and Civil Defense of Ukraine’s Interior Ministry. The contract was signed in the summer.
“This is clear evidence of enhancing the material capacity of our border guards, rescuers, and the National Guard. It’s a symbol of effective cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union; and also between Ukraine, France, and Germany. We mustn’t forget that Airbus was produced jointly by these two countries,” President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said.
“Ukraine is a great aeronautic country. We have the utmost respect for the Ukrainian industry and we saw it in all the technical phases of this operation for the professionalism of the teams we had to work with and I would like to thank them,” Executive Vice President of Airbus Helicopters Matthieu Louvot said.
The security system will feature 55 new Airbus helicopters along with the equipment previously deployed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It will be sent to 15 regional rapid response aviation centers.
“These units will perform the functions of police support, border control, and special operations. We are extremely glad that today we have received the first two helicopters. In two weeks, two more Super Puma helicopters will be in Ukraine for the Emergency Service. And then, according to schedule, we will develop this process step by step,” Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov said.
The project will be fully implemented within three years. This aviation security system is expected to be the third strongest in Europe.
