Thanks to the advancement in technology and air transport services by helicopters that the transportation of cargo has become possible almost at every place. External Load Operations (ELO), by definition, means- the process of lifting underslung loads by helicopters and transporting them to the areas which are inaccessible otherwise.
In a country like ours, Cargo transportation by air has mostly been associated with relief work, military transportation, rescue operations, etc. However, in recent times, Helicopters have started getting recognition for being used for External Load Operations. These services are gradually becoming popular in India, unlike foreign nations where the demand and applications of ELO services are vast, however, this is expected to multiply here shortly as this is one of the most useful utilities of helicopters globally.
In India, where power supply and infrastructure is still present at very inferior levels (or even non-existent) in remote destinations, the application of helicopters can greatly be explored to easily reach out to these regions and construct infrastructure facilities & powerlines for faster development.
Airlifting cargo from Point A and ferrying to Point B, which is usually a higher and inaccessible point, has proved to be helpful in places where road transportation remains a big challenge – which exists in many parts of the country.
True to its name and delivering unparalleled services in B2B and B2C segment, Himalayan Heli has established itself as the pioneer of conducting Helicopter Underslung External Load Operations (ELO). With a significant amount of work experience, we offer comprehensive helicopter transportation services, which require carrying unusual loads of atypical shape, size, weight & dimensions. Moreover, ELO services by helicopters turn out to be very economical in terms of time & effort involved and the most cost-efficient method, especially for companies in the Power & Construction industry who are looking to conduct projects in remote destinations.
External Load Operations (ELO) by Helicopters is among the most used services of Helicopters worldwide, and the Airbus H125 helicopters that are operated by Himalayan Heli, are widely used to carry out these operations. Solely because this aircraft is the most powerful & efficient machine in the single-engine aircraft segment. Capable of flying in almost every kind of geographical and weather condition with great cruise speeds, drag, and load capacity makes it even more desirable for construction works in high-altitude remote areas.
Talking about some of the notable ELO projects that have been successfully carried out by us – some in towns and some in remote locations of India were done at Junagadh (Gujarat), Poonch (J&K), Guptkashi (Uttarakhand), Surat (Gujarat), and Nasik (Maharashtra), among others.
Off-late, we have been involved in ELO projects which required a high level of expertise and technical know-how. With the heavy lifting capabilities of our machines, which are known for a higher degree of stability, accurate placement, and safety during operations, we take pride in delivering the best!
Some of our work:
1. Girnar Ropeway Construction Project
– Quite recently, in February 2019, we had conducted an ELO operation for Usha Berco Ltd. for the construction of a ropeway at Girnar Hills in Junagadh, Gujrat. Approx. 50 tonnes of construction materialsuch as towers, mixer machines, different types of winches, footplates, poles, etc., were ferried by the Airbus H125 helicopter.
– The altitudes were approx. 500-3500 ft. (Junagarh being the lower point and Girnar being the higher drop point).
– The maximum weighing object ferried in a single flight was 1004 kgs.
– Now, it’s the largest ropeway in Gujratwhich is being used by the pilgrims traveling to Maa Ambaji temple at Girnar. Earlier it used to take 5000 steps to reach the temple, but now it’s just a ropeway away.
Here’s the video of the whole external load operation work for GIRNAR ROPEWAY PROJECT:
2. Construction near Shri Kedarnath Ji
– In 2018, Himalayan Heli conducted underslung ELO work at Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, from a small village called Guptkashi (district Rudraprayag).
– The operation was carried out for construction work, where many different types of construction materials such as generators, steel/iron plates, etc were ferried.
– This was the first ELO operation that Himalayan Heli conducted at a high-altitude location – Done at over 11,000 ft.
3. Skyhawk Project by Erickson
– A yet another notable ELO project in which Himalayan Heli has been involved. Conducted in 2016, by Erickson (USA) in Jammu & Kashmir for Sterlite Power, the Skyhawk project was operated with the S-64 E Skycrane for the erection of power transmission towers mainly in the Pir Panjal range.
– Himalayan Heli aided Erickson as an aviation consultant in India and provided Aircraft Operator Permit (AOP) support and complete operational and logistical support for their operations in India.
– During the operation, Skycrane lifted big power transmission towers to higher inaccessible points, and Himalayan Heli’s Airbus H125 aircraft was also operated for flying Erickson and Sterlite crew members, to provide aerial assistance/guidance during the erection of towers.
– This operation was carried out from two main bases: Poonch and Bafliaz, from where the loads were lifted and dropped at higher points – as high as 11,000+ ft, where loads up to 2.5 tonnes were lifted by the Skycrane.
– As the weight of the cargo was extremely heavy and had to be lifted in high-altitude regions, Skycrane was the only helicopter that was capable of doing such heavy-lifting.
– This was truly a flagship project for all companies involved. Moreover, especially to execute this operation, the Skycrane S-64 E was imported into India for the very first time with the help of Himalayan Heli. This beast of machine truly looked like a man-made wonder, something which was never witnessed by us before.
Here’s a NatGeo documentary to give you the visual look and feel of the whole operation:
You can visit the Aerial Work page on our website for more information on our ELO and other services: https://www.himalayanheli.com/external-load-operation.php
Talking about the weight lifting capacities of a helicopter, it mainly depends and varies on the altitude of the operation and the size & power of the helicopter which is being used. For eg., in Junagadh which was at approx. 500 ft, Himalayan Heli’s Airbus H125 could suffice for lifting to 1 tonne of weight in a single flight, whereas the Skycrane on the other hand, which is much much bigger flying machine, could even lift up to 2.5 tonnes, even at high altitudes such as 11,000 ft.
Helicopter external load operations are indeed one of ourmost specializedservices, mainly because of the highly skilled pilots, extensive work experience, aviation expertise, and most importantly – because we operate the best flying machines for this job. And in case our aircraft can’t support an ELO requirement of excessively heavy loads, we engage our foreign business associates who specialize in these jobs as well for those requirements. All in all, for a job like this, we got it all covered.
You see, while Himalayan Heli initially came into being to operate Heli-skiing and pilgrimage heli-services, we later branched out into other more specialized fields of helicopter operations as well – such as Helicopter External load operations, Aerial geophysical surveys & LiDAR surveys. It has been our nature to keep on breaking barriers and setting new standards in our helicopter industry, simply by trying to excel at each job with our heart, soul, and mind.
Some of the other Himalayan Heli’s sought-after aerial work services include:
– Aerial Geophysical Surveys with Time-Domain Electromagnetic Systems
– Aerial LiDAR Surveys
– Aerial Filming
– Powerline Stringing
– Pipeline Inspections & Surveys, among others.
– Search and Rescue
To get to know more about our services, visit this weblink: https://www.himalayanheli.com/aerial-work.php
If you are looking to hire a helicopter for Power or Construction work, look no further than Himalayan Heli. Just get in touch with us and request a quote for any requirements of this sort.
Himalayan Heli assures you the best aerial support possible.
For any assistance or if you have any queries, we suggest you fill out the query form on our contact us page and our team will get back to you.
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Team Himalayan Heli !