2011
Finland to donate two Mi-8 helicopters to Hungary
Finland is donating two Mi-8 helicopters decommissioned by the Defence Forces to Hungary for use in crisis management duties. The donation is part of Finland’s input to the Multinational Helicopter Initiative (MHI).
MHI was founded in 2008 by France and the United Kingdom for tackling the shortage of helicopters in international crisis management operations.
The Mi-8 helicopters, their spare parts and other small material are being donated to Hungary free of charge. The costs incurred by transport will be borne by Hungary, which will also be in charge of all maintenance work carried out after the donation. The Mi-8 helicopters will be used in Hungary for training purposes.
The Defence Forces and the Border Guard had a total of ten Mi-8 helicopters in use between 1973 and 2011. The only severe accident encountered by the Mi-8 fleet in Finland took place in 1982, when one of the helicopters in use by the Border Guard at the Turku Air Patrol Squadron made an emergency landing on sea. The Mi-8 transport helicopters were used in Finland for a total of approximately 40,600 flight hours, of which 36,100 by the Defence Forces and 4,500 by the Border Guard.
A Hungarian delegation will retrieve the helicopters from Finland on 25 August 2011.
Information to the media:
The helicopters will be transported from the Utti Jaeger Regiment to Pirkkala in Tampere by road on 15–17 August. The media will have the opportunity to follow the first helicopter being lifted onto its transport platform in Utti on Monday, 15 August 2011. Representatives of the media are kindly requested to arrive at the front gate of the Regiment by 12.30 p.m.
Registration (media, name and date of birth) by 2 p.m. on 12 August 2011 to Information Officer Pia Enroos at the Utti Jaeger Regiment, e-mail pia.enroos@mil.fi or telephone +358 299 417 112.
Further information available from:
- helicopter donation to Hungary: Ministry of Defence, Senior Advisor Sanna Laaksonen tel. +358 9 160 88288 and +358 50 353 9624
- Mi-8 helicopter operations within the Defence Forces: Utti Jaeger Regiment, Helicopter Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ari Pellinen tel. +358 299 417 300.