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BBE supports Canadian Helicopters’ Afghan mission by loading largest planes in the world

When the US Forces need helicopters and parts sent to Afghanistan, they call Canadian Helicopters − and Canadian Helicopters turns to BBE to help get them there.

In March 2010, the U.S. Army contracted BBE’s client, Canadian Helicopters, to supply a Sikorsky S61, two Bell 212 helicopters and approximately 40 tonnes of parts and materials to Bagram, Afghanistan. The only way to move such a large load was to charter the Antonov 225, the worldís largest plane, and thatís just what they did.

“All the equipment came through our facility in Edmonton. We prepared it for loading, transported it to the plane and then loaded it. Some of the 40 tonnes of material was loaded into two 20-foot seacans, which were loaded onto trucks and backed into the plane. It’s that big,” said Dragos Niculescu, Regional Manager of BBE Business Development in Western Canada.

Once the seacans were in, the rest of the materials were loaded around the cans. The final freight to be loaded was the three helicopters, which were loaded by truck, or rolled into the aircraft up the cargo loading ramp.

“Thereís only one operational AN225 aircraft in the world and to be able to see it, work around it and load it, was thrilling,” said Niculescu.

BBE has worked with Canadian Helicopters, the largest helicopter transportation services company operating in Canada, for a number of years. Canadian Helicopters currently supplies helicopters in Afghanistan for the U.S. military, but also supports the troops through its own operation.

While this was the first time BBE has prepared for and loaded the Antonov 225 to move Canadian Helicopter’s cargo, they have also used the smaller and more readily available Antonov 124 to transport their helicopters and support equipment to Afghanistan on other occasions.

BBE has also been expediting Canadian Helicopters’ scheduled shipments of parts and equipment to support their operations in Afghanistan.

”We move spare parts for helicopters, which are very time-sensitive supplies for them. They are sourced from many locations, and our job is to get them to the helicopter maintenance crews on location ” said Niculescu.

Canadian Helicopters: www.canadianhelicopters.ca

At the Edmonton International Airport in March, 2010, BBE staff loaded two seacans and three helicopters from Canadian Helicopters onto the Antonov 225, the largest plane in the world. The load was delivered to the U.S. Army base in Bagram, Afghanistan.