Shortly after Russia attacked Ukraine nearly three years in the past Danny Sitnam allowed a Ukrainian couple and their child to remain in his household’s cottage.
Sitnam, who’s the CEO of helicopter service Helijet, mentioned Monday that in that point they’ve change into pals with the household and people at Maple Hope Basis, a bunch that has supplied assist to Ukrainians since 2014.
It’s what began the concept rolling to donate a completely operational medical helicopter for humanitarian use in Ukraine, he mentioned.
“It’s actually necessary within the sense of giving again to such a determined state of affairs that’s occurring within the Ukraine,” Sitnam mentioned.
Helijet mentioned in an announcement it has agreed with “a consortium of Canadian and Ukrainian non-governmental organizations” to ship the Sikorsky air ambulance, which was beforehand contracted to the B.C. Ministry of Well being.
“We simply felt it was the proper factor to do to see if we might help it in an even bigger manner, and ultimately this got here to the end result of giving an plane and supporting wounded troopers and so forth,” mentioned Sitnam.
He mentioned the entire venture will value between $500,000 and one million {dollars}.
Sitnam mentioned his household felt compelled to additional contribute after spending time with the Ukrainian household.
“Supporting them was simply the beginning of a dedication we made at Helijet to assist Maple Hope Basis because the unrelenting wrestle with Russia continues for the individuals of Ukraine,” he mentioned whereas standing in entrance of the helicopter draped with each the Canadian and Ukrainian flags.
The Sikorsky S-76A is a completely geared up air medical helicopter that Helijet had beforehand supplied below contract to B.C.’s Ministry of Well being for affected person transport, and whereas it has not too long ago been taken out of service, the assertion says the chopper nonetheless has years of flight functionality remaining.
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Sitnam mentioned the helicopter will likely be dismantled and pushed to Calgary, the place it will likely be loaded onto a 747 cargo plane and flown to Luxembourg.
The helicopter will likely be transported on the bottom to Kyiv, Ukraine, and is predicted to be put into use by March 15.
Svitlana Kominko, co-founder and CEO, Maple Hope Basis, mentioned her basis began a crowdfunding marketing campaign to assist facilitate the donation by elevating greater than $100,000 to maneuver the plane to Ukraine.
Helijet and Maple Hope Basis have additionally been working with the group Unite with Ukraine for greater than eight months to rearrange the cargo of the helicopter.
Kominko mentioned she obtained overwhelming suggestions from the Ukrainian neighborhood when she shared the information with them.
“Wow, a helicopter, subsequent it will likely be a spaceship,” laughed Kominko.
Kominko mentioned this donation will save lives and it sends out a powerful message to the individuals of Ukraine that whereas these persons are far-off, “they care, and so they need to assist.”
She mentioned it’s additionally a great reminder to those who the conflict isn’t over, Russia continues its assaults on villages, residential buildings, faculties and hospitals.
Kominko was not too long ago in Ukraine to go to her mom and mentioned persons are nonetheless dying.
“They’re killed of their beds … day by day we had been in Ukraine in December, the sirens are day by day and you need to conceal, and that you must discover a place, and your coronary heart, your thoughts isn’t at peace,” she mentioned.
Maple Hope Basis and Helijet hosted two pilots and two engineers from Ukraine in November for flight and upkeep coaching in preparation for the helicopter’s transfer to Ukraine.
Helijet mentioned in an announcement that the helicopter will likely be delivered on the situation that it’s used solely for non-commercial, humanitarian, and medical evacuation missions for airlifting individuals needing pressing medical consideration.
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