Earthquake: Aga Khan’s AB139 Fleet Added Civil Support to Military Relief Efforts

The Aga Khan Development Network’s (AKDN) fleet of four AB139 helicopters have been extensively used in earthquake relief operations in Pakistan’s northern regions.

Delivered between late 2004 and spring 2005, the four AB139s were acquired by AKDN to operate in the remote and mountains regions of South and Central Asia to ferry personnel and material for the construction of the three University of Central Asia (UCA) campuses. Initially based in Islamabad and Dushanbe Tajikistan), in the aftermath of the earthquake all four were brought together at Islamabad base.

Flown in support of FOCUS (Focus Humanitarian Assistance), a humanitarian assistance agency affiliated with ADKN, the four helicopters have carried relief items including staple foods such as oil, lentils ad rice, as well as tents, blankets and medical supplies that were distributed to thousands in need. On their return journeys to Islamabad, the helicopters carried survivors requiring urgent medical assistance.

In the first month of relief operations, the four aircraft logged 636 sorties and 457 flying hours, transporting 1,050 injured people, 3,300 passengers and 462 tons of vital material, medicine and foods. They performed missions lasting eight hours, dawn-to-sunset, in support of affected populations in remote and urban areas, including Muzaffarabad, Bagh Dupatta, Batgram and Balakot. According to ADKN, AB139s worked in many difficult conditions including high altitude, extreme temperatures and load conditions, carrying a maximum of 15 passengers. Operating at normal altitudes of over 4,200 meters with ISA + 20°c conditions, the helicopters were able to fly routinely at 150+ knots, with fuel consumption less than 350kg per hour with 60% torque, at maximum weight.

The AB139s were selected by ADKN for their hot-and-high capabilities in the medium-twin class to support the University of Central Asia (UCA) project, founded by the Presidents of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan and the Aga Khan himself in order to foster economic and social development throughout the vast and impoverished mountain zones of Central Asia.