Five Spanish Super Puma and Cougar helicopters are currently performing humanitarian operations in Afghanistan as part of the NATO/ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission. Rotor Journal takes a closer look at their exemplary work.

The Spanish Ministry of Defense sent five Cougar and Super Puma helicopters to Afghanistan to carry out two types of missions led by NATO.
Since October 2006, the FAMET (Spanish Army Airmobile Force) has been conducting troop transport missions with three AS532 Cougars in Afghanistan.
Their main objective is to actively participate in the reconstruction of the country (infrastructures, protection of NGOs, transportation of humanitarian aid, etc.(1)).

Since May 2005, the Spanish Air Force has been using two AS332 Super Pumas based in the province of Herat (in the West of the country) to perform medical evacuation missions for Afghan civilians and troops.
“We fly in a particularly hostile environment, and we perform all our missions with two helicopters,” explained Colonel Rodríguez from the 48 Wing of the Spanish Air Force.
“The medical aircraft carries a physician, nurse, and an assistant, and is always escorted by a second helicopter.
Once we have picked up our patients we carry them to our hospital in Herat.
The teamwork between the FAMET and the Spanish Air Force has been excellent: we are always there for each other.”

Last December, the Air Force recorded its 1,000th flight hour in Afghan skies with an availability rate of approximately 90%.
“Because of the extremely mountainous terrain and the lack of telecommunications facilities, the helicopter is the only effective means of transport and communication in Afghanistan,” adds Lieutenant Colonel Maestro, a Super Puma pilot.
“The aircraft have to be able to withstand the extreme weather conditions, with temperatures reaching 56ºC in summer.
There is also a great deal of sand and dust.
But despite these harsh conditions, none of the major components on the aircraft or the engines have failed, which has allowed us to carry out all our missions.
Thanks to the Super Pumas, we have been able to save many lives and help reconstruct the country, as the Afghan population witnesses on a daily basis.”