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PASAB, Afghanistan -- Until they get their own helicopters next year, Canadian troops in Afghanistan will have access to six civilian choppers to lessen the risk of coming under insurgent attack while moving along the country's notoriously dangerous roads.
The Mi-8 helicopters are being contracted from Toronto-based Sky Link as a stopgap measure. The first flight of the aircraft took place at Kandahar Airfield yesterday.
"As a task force, it allows us to transport with the Mi-8's cargo and with the Chinook's personnel, with a view to try and get Canadians off the roads here in Afghanistan where they are exposed to all the dangers of this country -- ambushes and IEDs and the other things that all Canadians are aware of," said Col. Christopher Coates, air wing commander of Joint Task Force Afghanistan.
The decision to contract the Mi-8s, which will be flown by civilian pilots, is the result of a recommendation from the Manley report last spring that Canada should have some air capabilities for its operations in Afghanistan.
The Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that is one of the world's most-produced choppers.
It is used by more than 50 countries.
Although there are models of the Mi-8s that can be armed, that won't be the case in this instance.
"It is a very versatile aircraft with extremely good capability for high, hot and heavy operations, which is what we are looking at doing here," said Bob Waring, project manager for Sky Link.
Waring said he's not worried about sending civilian pilots into military operations.
"Well, the risks are consistent across the board, whether you are wearing a uniform or not," he said.
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