In the process of consolidating the tuning and operability of its high mountain helicopters SA315B Lama, the Argentine Air Force confirmed the commissioning of a fifth unit, which will operate alongside the rest of the fleet from the IV Air Brigade “El Pumerillo,” located in the province of Mendoza. This was reported by the institution yesterday, March 12, commemorating it with a flight performed by the five Lama aircraft in service plus their future replacement: the Bell 407GXi.
Over the past few years, the Argentine Air Force has promoted various initiatives to restore the operability of its SA315B high mountain helicopters. Among these initiatives are procurement processes with foreign companies, the most notable being the agreement reached with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Through this agreement, the Indian company will provide repair services for Artouste III B/B1 engines.
Although the acquisition of the new Bell 407GXi aimed to replace the SA315B, with the efforts made by the Argentine Air Force, this matter has not been entirely clear. With the mentioned efforts and the commissioning of new units, it is projected that they will complement each other in this stage with the new helicopters. This is because the incorporation of a new system is not immediate and various milestones must be met, such as training new pilots and crews on the ground.
The Argentine Air Force has highlighted the work of the personnel of Technical Group 4 to increase the availability of the Lama, which are essential for carrying out search and rescue missions in mountainous environments, understanding that this type of task should always be performed in pairs according to established procedures.
*Photographs Argentine Air Force.
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