Laroy Flyg transports one metric ton of lime on each round trip with its Ecureuil.

In Sweden, acid rain caused by industrial activities all over Europe has contaminated the waters of the country’s more than 90,000 lakes. Laroy Flyg fights this type of pollution by liming the lakes with the aid of its AS350 B3 Ecureuil. This enables their flora and fauna to survive. “Acid rain penetrates the soil and contaminates the lakes. The pH of the water drops too low and the proportion of heavy metals increases, rendering underwater life impossible,” explains Laroy Flyg’s director Martin Pihl. “We spread the lime directly in the water or around the shores to increase the pH of the water. After liming the lakes for only two or three years, we have managed to restore the possibility of fish life.” Financed by the Swedish Ministry of Agriculture, the lake liming mission could not be carried out without the aid of a helicopter. “Our Ecureuil carries 1,000 kg of lime on each trip,” continues Martin Pihl. “We fly the helicopter for nearly 1,200 hours a year, pausing only between April and July so as not to disturb nesting birds.” “Not only can the AS350 B3 Ecureuil transport such heavy loads, but it is easy to maintain and we can fly for up to 500 hours between inspections,” states Laroy Flyg Chief Pilot Mattias Nilsson. “What’s more, a helicopter of this size can land anywhere we want, close to the lakes. It is swift, easy to handle, and capable of flying at very low altitudes – everything it takes, in fact, for our mission to succeed!”