Only one out of five AFM helicopters in use

Only one of the Armed Forces of Malta’s five helicopters is in use, Nationalist Party home affairs spokesperson Darren Carabott said after receiving a reply to a parliamentary question.

On Monday, Carabott received replies about the army’s helicopters – three AgustaWestland AW139s and two Alouette IIIs.

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said two AW139 helicopters are undergoing regular maintenance, while the parent company of the Alouette III helicopters was ending its certification for the model. A spokesperson for the ministry later added that the helicopters had been retired.

In his statement, Carabott raised concerns over the army’s rescue capabilities.

“Summer is approaching, and many people go to the sea, either by boat or along the cliffs to enjoy the views. But heaven forbid something happens, do you know how many helicopters we currently have in operation in the Armed Forces? One,” Carabott said.

The Home Affairs Ministry was asked why only one helicopter was available for the Armed Forces of Malta.

The spokesperson said the AFM “is exploring options to augment its current helicopter fleet in line with its procurement and investment objectives. However, no specific type and category has been selected at this time.”

The spokesperson said the last two “elderly single-engine” Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters were retired.

“This decision was necessitated by the limited spare parts stockpile and the OEM bulletin announcing the withdrawal of type certification.”

“In an effort to maintain standardisation within its helicopter fleet and enhance operational flexibility, the AFM is prioritising operational efficiency and safety. This strategic approach is expected to bring significant benefits to their operations,” the spokesperson said.

The AFM also has a number of fixed-wing aircraft, used primarily for maritime patrol. 

Workhorses of the Air Wing for decades

Alouette single-engined helicopters – easily recognisable by the whine of their turbine – had been flying in Malta’s skies since 1979, when they formed part of a Libyan military mission based here.

An AFM Alouette helicopter. AFM file photo.

In August 1980, relations between Libya and Malta took a nosedive when Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi sent a patrol boat and a submarine to stop Maltese oil exploration in an area Libya claimed as its own.

Maltese Prime Minister Dom Mintoff promptly ordered the Libyan military mission to leave immediately.

Three Libyan Alouette helicopters were left behind in Malta, but they could not be flown because their logbooks were missing.

They spent a decade in a hangar before the all-important documents were handed to the Maltese government.

The helicopters were then overhauled in France – where they were made – and returned to service in 1992.

In 1996, the AFM acquired a further two Alouettes from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and some of the older helicopters were retired and used for spares.