The ambition is to maintain at least six EH101 [Merlin] helicopter crews in the archipelago, announced the commander of the Azores Air Zone, Major General António Moldão.
As the advanced search and rescue exercise ASAREX begins in the Azores, António Moldão emphasized the importance of Air Base No. 4 on Terceira Island in this field.
“The operational effort is significant. The number of [medical] evacuations and rescues conducted here is substantial,” he stated.
The 752 “Fénix” squadron, established two years ago, still faces limitations in the number of personnel.
“We are deeply aware of the relevance of this operational air unit, and we are doing everything possible to ensure the growth of squadron 752 is consolidated, and it is on the right path,” reiterated the commander of the Azores Air Zone.
António Moldão acknowledged that human resources present a challenge for the Air Force, often unable to prevent people from leaving for civil aviation.
Additionally, training a pilot commander for the EH-101 Merlin can take up to 10 years.
“These are highly qualified human resources, from the pilots to the hoist operators and rescue recoverers. Training this entire human resource inventory takes years,” he noted.
Currently, squadron 752 has only one designated pilot commander, sometimes requiring support from squadron 751 at Air Base number 6 in Montijo.
“We still need to have pilot commanders deployed from Montijo to collaborate in this effort,” recognized the commander of the Azores Air Zone.
“I myself am also an EH-101 pilot commander and conduct aeromedical evacuations and rescues in the archipelago, contributing my part,” he added.
At present, squadron 752 maintains “at least two EH-101 crews at all times.”
The Portuguese Air Force has been training a “significant number of new pilots every year,” but other squadrons with different aircraft also require human resources.
“The consolidation of this capability in the Azores is underway, and it is on track. The objective is to have a minimum of six crews. We will achieve this. We are not there yet but are working to make this happen as soon as possible,” emphasized António Moldão.
The commander of the Azores Air Zone highlighted the “extraordinary work” not only of the crews but also of the maintenance teams, which enable having two helicopters ready every day.
“In this unit, we are regenerating more than 1,000 hours of EH flight per year. This is a significant effort. Approximately 50% of EH flight hours are flown in the Azores archipelago,” he pointed out.
Search and rescue missions in the Azores can occur up to 350 miles away, taking between six and eight hours, making it essential to have a second crew ready to act.
“The safety of that crew relies on the second helicopter and the second crew ready to take off in case of a disaster involving the helicopter currently in operation,” António Moldão explained.
