Is this the IAF's biggest heli-lift ever?

[thestringshredder]

DEHRADUN: Senior IAF officers in the rescue operations underway in Uttarakhand's upper reaches, say this by far is the biggest heli-lift ever in the Air Force's history. "The size of the operations is staggering," said air commodore Rajesh Isser, overseeing operations at the Jolly Grant helipad here.

The efforts are gargantuan. The IAF has deployed 45 aircraft and logged in over 1,000 flying hours in the last week, airlifting 11,826 pilgrims to date. Air chief marshal NAK Browne on Monday said, " Our helicopter rotors will not stop churning till we get each one of you out, do not lose hope and hang in there." The IAF has since June 17 flown about 1,279 sorties and dropped or landed over 1,88,062 kg relief material and equipment. "This is likely our biggest heli-lift ever," a senior officer at Jolly Grant said. By 7 am, the air force are ready for the day. Their work doesn't stop at airlifting. They are often seen feeding the rescued — from Badrinath, Harsil, Gauchar, talking to them, calming their jittery, disoriented minds. Wing commander Gerard Galway, a key officer here said he's never seen anything like this. "Even by global standards what we're doing here is massive. We're in for the long haul."

Back after bringing about 30 pilgrims from Badrinath, squadron leader Manoj Gautam is beat. But when a passenger clasps his hands in gratitude, Gautam humbly says the entire armed forces, especially the Army and ITBP, are doing an equally phenomenal job. "The credit has to be shared by all."

Link - Is this the IAF's biggest heli-lift ever? - The Times of India

 

[invincible]

Salute to our forces

 

[ptltejas]

we need to use MI-26 helicopters for disaster management.each heli can take 100 people inside and daily 10 trips can shift 1000 people. the 20 like heli can shift more than 20000 persons per day. very useful in conditions like "Kedarnath".

 

[Star Wars]

we need to use MI-26 helicopters for disaster management.each heli can take 100 people inside and daily 10 trips can shift 1000 people. the 20 like heli can shift more than 20000 persons per day. very useful in conditions like "Kedarnath".

They are using it to ferry in supplies , but its to big to land anywhere in disaster areas

 

[kaykay]

we need to use MI-26 helicopters for disaster management.each heli can take 100 people inside and daily 10 trips can shift 1000 people. the 20 like heli can shift more than 20000 persons per day. very useful in conditions like "Kedarnath".

True but here in Uttrakhand MI-26 can't be used for rescuing people as there are narrow vallies where people are stranded and it requires big place to land. Compartively smaller choppers are more useful IMO.

 

[Gessler]

" Our helicopter rotors will not stop churning till we get each one of you out, do not lose hope and hang in there."

- NAK Browne

Salute to our forces for their brilliant efforts at rescue ops.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Chinook CH 47 in this role would have been superb. Mi 26 cannot be used in these areas, and thats the problem.
But guys, I am proud of u

 

[ptltejas]

well I think it is not possible for any helicopter to shift the people from short places. but those who were at kedarnath and other places it would be possible to use MI-26. just by cleaning some land and putting supports it would be possible to land Mi-26 at the Kedarnath. If I may right...by the way our militery is doing the great job.

 

[SRP]

Respect to our armed forces.

 

[baker]

hats off to our beloved armed forces..... you are our heroes.......

 

[Bratva]

Are C-130 being used for dropping supplies?

 

[rockstarIN]

Are C-130 being used for dropping supplies?

NO, only transportation

 

[Spring Onion]

The biggest ever rescue operation by IAF

 

[Cherokee]

The biggest ever rescue operation by IAF

Yep Much bigger than Tsunami Operations and other flood ops . In any case it is good to see Military hardware helping civilians .

Air chief marshal said, "Our helicopter rotors will not stop churning till we get each one of you out, do not lose hope and hang in there"

 

[Parul]

As always the armed forces personnel are the only silver lining in an otherwise mismanaged state of affairs during such calamities. Salute to Our Army Forces