Skytech
Encyclopedia
Skytech Helicopters is a Belgian helicopter company operating heavy-lift helicopters in different countries. The company is known for pioneering commercial operation of the Mil MI 26T
in Western Europe from 1992.
First external load works were carried on with a single MD 500
helicopter; this light lifter was soon joined by a Mil MI 10K
Harke-B under long term lease from the Aeroflot
regional branch of the Republic of Komi
. This MI 10K was used as a flying crane on various projects all over Europe, including building ski lifts up to 3,500 m on the Monte Rosa
in the Alps.
The Belgian company introduced the first Mil MI 26T
(1) in South America in 1994 and in the same year set up partnerships with Nepal Airways to operate five Mil MI 17
helicopters in Nepal, and in Papua Niugini with Heli Niugini to operate a couple of Kamov 32 helicopters to support oil explorations with Barracuda Oil and Chevron Oil.
Since 2006, the family-owned company was largely involved in humanitarian support in Asia and signed a cooperation agreement with the Emercom, the Russian Ministry of Civil Protection to establish an alert base in Brussels South Charleroi Airport (2) but the project was moved to north of France.
, the MI 26T's manufacturer teamed with Skytech in 1994 to produce a powerful fire fighting systems for the world largest helicopters (3) ; the system called Twin Bambi Buckets system was able to deliver 20.000 liters per drop and was manufactured in Canada by SEI (4).
The TBB was first operated commercially by Samsung Aerospace of South Korea under contract with Skytech SA in 1998, and on several Governmental contracts in Turkey and Italy in 2000 Skytech SA supplied not less than three MI 26T for the Italian Civil Protection operated as "State Aircraft" for the firefighting season.
(6) and Bosnia from 2000. The company is known to operate on undisclosed governmental programs (7)
Mil Mi-26
The Mil Mi-26 is a Soviet/Russian heavy transport helicopter. In service with civilian and military operators, it is the largest and most powerful helicopter ever to have gone into production.-Design and development:...
in Western Europe from 1992.
History
Skytech SA was founded in Belgium in November 1989 by helicopter pilots Thierry Lakhanisky and Lucienne De Dryver.First external load works were carried on with a single MD 500
MD Helicopters MD 500
The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach...
helicopter; this light lifter was soon joined by a Mil MI 10K
Mil Mi-10
-See also:-References:Bibliography* Gordon, Yefim, Komissarov, Dmitriy and Komissarov, Sergey, Mil's Heavylift Helicopters; Mi-6/Mi-10/V-12/Mi-26, Red Star Volume 22, Midland Counties Publications, 2005-External links:*http://www.aviation.ru/Mi/#10...
Harke-B under long term lease from the Aeroflot
Aeroflot
OJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines , commonly known as Aeroflot , is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, based on passengers carried per year...
regional branch of the Republic of Komi
Komi Republic
The Komi Republic is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is situated to the west of the Ural mountains, in the north-east of the East European Plain...
. This MI 10K was used as a flying crane on various projects all over Europe, including building ski lifts up to 3,500 m on the Monte Rosa
Monte Rosa
The Monte Rosa Massif is a mountain massif located in the eastern part of the Pennine Alps. It is located between Switzerland and Italy...
in the Alps.
The Belgian company introduced the first Mil MI 26T
Mil Mi-26
The Mil Mi-26 is a Soviet/Russian heavy transport helicopter. In service with civilian and military operators, it is the largest and most powerful helicopter ever to have gone into production.-Design and development:...
(1) in South America in 1994 and in the same year set up partnerships with Nepal Airways to operate five Mil MI 17
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
helicopters in Nepal, and in Papua Niugini with Heli Niugini to operate a couple of Kamov 32 helicopters to support oil explorations with Barracuda Oil and Chevron Oil.
Since 2006, the family-owned company was largely involved in humanitarian support in Asia and signed a cooperation agreement with the Emercom, the Russian Ministry of Civil Protection to establish an alert base in Brussels South Charleroi Airport (2) but the project was moved to north of France.
Heavy firefighting
RostvertolRostvertol
Rostvertol is a Russian helicopter manufacturing company located in Rostov-on-Don. It was founded on 1st of July 1939. Rostvertol is the only helicopter manufacturing company in Russia not controlled by the government.It produces Мi-26T, Mi-24 and Mi-28N....
, the MI 26T's manufacturer teamed with Skytech in 1994 to produce a powerful fire fighting systems for the world largest helicopters (3) ; the system called Twin Bambi Buckets system was able to deliver 20.000 liters per drop and was manufactured in Canada by SEI (4).
The TBB was first operated commercially by Samsung Aerospace of South Korea under contract with Skytech SA in 1998, and on several Governmental contracts in Turkey and Italy in 2000 Skytech SA supplied not less than three MI 26T for the Italian Civil Protection operated as "State Aircraft" for the firefighting season.
Fleet
The fleet size is variable, the company has operated Ka 32T (5), KA 32S, MI 26T, MI 10K, MI 8MTV, MI 8AMT, MI 171, B 206, MD 500. At least three MI 26T were at one time based in Belgium but are no more active. Several MI 17 bearing Skytech titles were spotted in YemenYemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
(6) and Bosnia from 2000. The company is known to operate on undisclosed governmental programs (7)
Media
The company’s helicopters appeared in several films:- "Operation Okavango" - Nicolas Hulot
- "Ushuaia" - Nicolas Hulot
- "Massive Machines" - Chris Barrie
- "Greatest Ever" Discovery Channel