Columbia Helicopters has delivered a Columbia Model 107-II Vertol to Heliswiss International (HSI). The sale makes HSI the official launch customer for the aircraft in Europe. The Columbia 107-II is the civilian variant of the Boeing Vertol CH-46. As with the 234 model, Columbia is the type certificate holder for the aircraft.
HSI already operate a single Kamov Ka-32 for medium external load operations, but continuing sanctions and the uncertain future of Kamov production led the company to look for an alternative and led them to Columbia’s 107-II.
“The addition of the Columbia Model 107-II Vertol expands our fleet of heavy-lift helicopters, allowing us to better serve our existing clients and open new market segments in alignment with our business strategy,” explains Ralf Walser, CEO of the Swiss Helicopter Group, the parent company of HSI. “Working directly with Columbia, the aircraft’s manufacturer provides us with the remarkable advantage of unique availability with extremely short downtimes.”
HSI will use the aircraft in its partnerships with government and private institutions for forest fire fighting, external load lifts, and rapid disaster response. The company plans to send the aircraft to Chile to fight fires and perform external load operations during the European winter season.
