Although for years almost the entire fleet of the Directorate of the Air and Helicopter Unit of the Ministry of the Interior has been grounded due to technical malfunctions, for this summer season, it is expected that almost the entire squadron will be operationally ready, both for flights and for firefighting operations.
Of the total of five aircraft, three are currently operational, and the fourth is being trained, so the air-helicopter unit should welcome the fire season with two firefighting aircraft and two helicopters, which will be fully operational for dedicated flights, as well as firefighting.
The MUP helicopters are currently fully operational, with a special mobile firefighting system installed, and these days, mechanics from Spain have been working on repairs and regular services on two firefighting aircraft - "Air Tractor 802" in the unit's hangar.
For years, due to the neglect of the air-helicopter unit and frequent cancellations of tender procedures, almost the entire fleet was grounded as they awaited the purchase of parts, repairs, regular annual services, insurance...
Helicopter unit leader and pilot Darko Pavlovic He told "Vijesti" that he expects this season to be successful in operational terms.
"We will have two helicopters with built-in firefighting systems, and we are working to make two firefighting aircraft operational. In addition to expecting most of the aircraft to be ready, we also have a trained team of 11 pilots, two engineers and mechanics. We still have problems with procurement, because these procedures are often delayed or the tender is canceled. The problems in our unit, as well as in aviation organizations around the world, began with the year of Covid, so in addition to problems with tenders, it happened that due to administration the fleet was left without insurance for a while. Aviation is very complex, meaning we need to fulfill a lot of things in order to be operational, and if one of those things is not in accordance with the standards, we have to be grounded," explained pilot Pavlović.
"Heavenly Firefighter"
Last year, the Ministry of Interior completed a tender for the purchase of a special aerial firefighting bucket, the "Bambi Bucket," which will be attached to helicopters during firefighting operations, allowing the crew to deliver large amounts of water to multiple locations during operations.
Also, the capacity of the "SIMPLEX" system, which the helicopter unit has previously owned - the "sky firefighter", as pilot Pavlović explained, is almost 1.500 liters of water that can be discharged in one burst.
"With this system, we have significantly increased our operational capabilities, so we can now use both helicopters to extinguish fires. The purchased 'Simplex system' for extinguishing fires has proven to be very effective, and in the previous period we have also carried out the necessary training and now we have pilots ready for firefighting operations. For this season, we have also purchased a 'Bambi Bucket' for extinguishing fires," Pavlović emphasized.
The "SIMPLEX" system is filled via a hose and pump at the location where the firefighting operation is being carried out, and can be filled in a minute and 40 seconds, which will greatly increase the number and speed of the bursts, as well as the amount of water that pours from the sky.
"In the previous period, we worked proactively to be as prepared as possible for the fire season. Our vision was to increase the efficiency of firefighting with the fleet we own. In this regard, we acquired a fuel tanker that we can deploy, that is, mobile, to be used during such operations, so that we would not have to return to the home airport to refuel the helicopter," the pilot said.
An analysis of the Centralized Public Procurement System shows that several procurement procedures for spare parts for two helicopters and three "Air Tractors" of the Ministry of the Interior have been underway for months.
The former major of the Army of Montenegro, who transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2023, emphasized that there are several strategic documents, as well as government conclusions on the procurement of new helicopters for the air-helicopter unit.
However, as he explained, it is difficult at this moment and due to global circumstances, to expect that new aircraft for the needs of the Ministry of the Interior will be purchased and delivered in the near future.
"We are ripe for the acquisition of new aircraft. In the previous period, some information was adopted by the Government about the need to purchase aircraft. Believe me, we will be the happiest if this is realized," he said.
The MUP fleet includes two helicopters - the "Agusta Bell 212" was purchased in the late 70s when the unit was founded and operated under the Federal Directorate of Internal Affairs, and the "AB 412" was purchased in 1997.
"In addition to helicopters, which were primarily in this unit, since the early 2000s, airplanes have also been used for firefighting. The unit is located at the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, and during the fire season, this is our main task. The unit is ready 24/7, we have constant duty, and from the first call, we can take off and go into action in about 30 minutes," Pavlović said.
The “golden hour” rule
The crew of the MUP helicopter unit had 43 flights last year, and in addition to extinguishing fires, the aircraft were engaged in search and rescue operations, most often of mountaineers, as air support in the actions of colleagues from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, transporting the sick and seriously injured to the nearest hospitals, but also on flights for the needs of protected persons.
"We have an exceptional cooperation with the Mountain Rescue Service, we are in constant contact with them. At their call, of course, while respecting the protocol and regulations on how the unit can be deployed, we go on rescue operations in the mountain ranges. In such situations, the most important rule is the 'golden hour'. For example, at the end of last year, we had a situation when we were rescuing a hunter in Piva, who had been seriously injured by a bear. That day, we had another flight for the needs of the Police Directorate, and while we were in the air, we received a notification about the accident. We immediately diverted the flight and managed to successfully complete the task and deliver the seriously injured hunter to the Clinical Center on time, whose life was later saved. That speed is actually crucial in such life-saving operations," said pilot Pavlović.
When engaged in operations, as the pilot explained, the crew must be maximally focused, and it is especially challenging when extinguishing fires because the aircraft are "at their limit" in these operations.
For service by flight to Athens
Last year, the crew flew to Athens to service a police helicopter.
On the way to Athens, the helicopter landed in Corfu, and then continued its journey to the capital of Greece.
"In principle, we can make a helicopter flight of up to three hours from our home airport without any problems. In three hours, we can reach all regional centers - Zagreb, Zadar, Split, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Niš, Pristina, all the way to Bari," Pavlović said.
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