SLAF Bell 212 Helicopter Supported to Fight Yahangala Mountain Fire
4:04pm on Sunday 11th September 2016
A Bell 212 helicopter from No. 07 Squadron at
SLAF Base Hingurakgoda was deployed yesterday (10
September 16) from 11.00 am to assist in retarding the spread of a
forest fire which erupted in the Kehelpola Oruwegala also
known as Yahangala mountain range, Hasalaka
area.
Using water from Hasalaka Tank, the crew of Bell 212 helicopter battled the fire with the aid of its under slung ‘Bambi bucket’ flying 12 consecutive sorties (approximately 11,000 Liters)and doused the spread of the raging fire close to the low lying village.
Wg Cdr KADAC Kuruwita lead the Helicopter as Captain pilot while Copilot Flt Lt RJM Goonetileke, Air Gunners ,Cpl Udaya Kumara KHC and LAC Kumara PWGAR were the air crew members. In addition Sgt Dissanayake BMSS, Cpl Wijerathne PMUK, LAC Sankalpa EDS and LAC Peries NGS joined the mission as supporting ground crew.
Using water from Hasalaka Tank, the crew of Bell 212 helicopter battled the fire with the aid of its under slung ‘Bambi bucket’ flying 12 consecutive sorties (approximately 11,000 Liters)and doused the spread of the raging fire close to the low lying village.
Wg Cdr KADAC Kuruwita lead the Helicopter as Captain pilot while Copilot Flt Lt RJM Goonetileke, Air Gunners ,Cpl Udaya Kumara KHC and LAC Kumara PWGAR were the air crew members. In addition Sgt Dissanayake BMSS, Cpl Wijerathne PMUK, LAC Sankalpa EDS and LAC Peries NGS joined the mission as supporting ground crew.
