The ability of the Finnish Defence Forces to assist in rescue efforts after disasters is being compromised by delays in the acquisition of new helicopters. According to Anssi Vuolle, who will soon take up the post of commander of the Utti Helicopter Battallion, the shortage of helicopters is a problem for rescue efforts on land and at sea. In a worst case scenario, only one crisis unit will be available to react to an emergency situation if one helicopter is being serviced. Even in the best of cases only two helicopters will be available. Vuolle notes that in the best of times, the Defence Forces have had seven MI8 helicopters. Only two of them are still operational. There have been serious delays in the delivery of new transport helicopters. A fleet of more than 10 were supposed to be delivered by NHIndustries by the beginning of October this year. Vuolle is nevertheless confident that the present situation is just a temporary one. How long the low readiness lasts depends on when the defence authorities decide on how to resolve the helicopter problem. One way to secure greater helicopter capacity is to refurbish the existing aircraft and keep them operational until the new ones are delivered. YLE
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