- Moving helicopters from one location to another presents logistical challenges and requires careful planning, considering factors like time constraints and available routes.
- Sea, air, and road transport are viable options for moving helicopters, with each method offering different advantages depending on the circumstances.
- Safety measures are prioritized during the transportation process, including proper wrapping and securing of the helicopters to prevent damage or exposure to harsh conditions.
How Are Helicopters Transported When They Cannot Fly? states a Simple Flying news source.
Land, air, and sea options all play a part
Like much of the cargo industry’s operations, moving helicopters from one location to another is a challenging logistical problem. If a helicopter is broken, of course, it needs to be carried by some other vehicle. But even for delivery of a brand new one, it might not be flown to its final destination. Simply flying the helicopter to its eventual home can be more expensive than shipping it by other means, and if it’s to go overseas, options are somewhat limited.
Some of the largest helicopters are able to conduct ferry flights, though those can involve various stops or island hops. Therefore, a helicopter that must be transported will be loaded onto a large truck, freighter, or container ship.
Sea Transport
A container ship might be optimal if time is not of the essence and the route makes sense. Especially for models that are greater than three meters (9.84 feet) in height, they can be safely loaded and unloaded from a bulk carrier.
Fortunately for customers, there are plenty of sea operators who have experience moving whole or dismantled helicopters and aircraft by ship. They can provide suggestions for how best to get a flying machine from A to B.
Air Transport
However, if it is time-critical, or the route by sea doesn’t make sense, one of several large cargo aircraft might need deployment. A Boeing 747 freighter can do the job well for small to medium-sized helicopters. Helicopters can be loaded onto pallets and moved onto a 747F through the side door via a roller-bed system.
Larger helicopters demand an even more capable freighter. With minimal dismantling, up to four heavy helicopters can be loaded into an Antonov An-124 for transport. Or, if six to seven medium-sized helicopters need to move to the same place together, the An-124 is also a preferred choice. For example, back in 2021, an An-124 flew five Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Poland to the Philippines, which they noted was a light load for the aircraft.
Road Transport
Cheaper yet, or perhaps used in addition to one of the above methods, is road transport. Sometimes there’s no better way to get a helicopter to its final destination than by using a road network. However, as this is likely the most dangerous, much care and attention to detail must be put into logistical planning.
According to Onze, the basics here include:
- Studying the most optimal routes.
- Checking bridge heights along said routes.
- Any construction or transportation projects along the way.
- Obtaining necessary oversized cargo permits.
- Securing a cargo escort team.
Depending on the company chosen, they may have a suitable flatbed truck ready to go or will have to rent one to match the size and weight of the helicopter for transport.
No matter the method chosen, helicopter owners can rest assured that the necessary precautions are taken to ensure safe delivery. Whether it’s a complete wrapping before it gets loaded onto a plane or truck or placed below a ship’s deck to prevent ocean water from getting to the metal, new and repaired helicopters are safely moved around the world daily.
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Source: Simpleflying
