From mid-November 2005 to mid- March 2006, Airlift S.A. – a Norwegian operator based on the west coast of Norway – took part in the humanitarian relief operations organized by the International Red Cross in the wake of the earthquake that mainly hit Kashmir, at the border between Pakistan and India. In this region of soaring peaks, the only practicable way in was by helicopter. Airlift assigned two pilots, two mechanics, and an AS332 C Super Puma for this mission(1), in which 350 flight hours were logged and up to 60 tons of food and medicine carried every day. The Super Puma excelled in hoisting operations and in airlifting heavy loads. The helicopter operated out of the Abbotabad Base north of Islamabad, heading up into the Kashmir mountains every day and helping save many lives by furnishing medicine and other supplies to injured and sick survivors on the hospitals. Erlend Folstad, the Airlift Commercial Director, sums up the experience: “Our main difficulties were the high altitude, the weather conditions, and the air traffic. But we knew we could count on the Super Puma AS332 C for high reliability and serviceability. This was our first taste of this kind of work in such conditions. All in all, this was an excellent experience and it was an honor to work for the Red Cross with the aim of saving lives!”