The commander in chief of the Chilean Air Force (FACh)air general Hugo Rodriguezreported yesterday to the National Defense Commission of the Chamber of Deputies and Deputies that the institution presented a project to incorporate a helicopter Sikorsky MH-60 Black Hawk to operate at the Antarctic air base President Eduardo Frei Montalva in the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region.
MH-60M deployed for SAR operations in Antarctica. FACh Signature
In the framework of an extraordinary session broadcast live yesterday from the Frei base of the FACh, the commander in chief – in the presence of the Minister of National Defense, Maya Fernandez– was consulted by the Defense Commission about the progress of the incorporation of the aircraft, to which General Rodríguez pointed out that “in relation to the helicopter project, the Air Force has a project presented, without financing to date, which is for a helicopter MH-60 which is equal to those provided by the institution”.
The highest authority of the FACh added that “at this moment the Air Force has six of these helicopters and there is a project for both Easter Island and Antarctica, depending on the fulfillment of institutional responsibility.”
General Rodríguez during his speech at the National Defense Commission. FACh Signature
In addition, General Rodríguez referred to the importance of the Modernization of Antarctic Infrastructure (MIA)which will renew the bases of the Chilean Armed Forcesindicating that it is a sustainable base in which logistical support will be given to the sciences, to the Chilean Antarctic Instituteso that the purpose of developing peace and science from the Antarctic territory is effective.
It should be noted that in addition to these two helicopters, the Air Force is in the process of analyzing to provide itself with 14 new units to replace the ones Bell UH-1H of the Aviation Group No. 9 of the IIª Air Brigade.
