HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Defense Technology Inc. has bought Mi-17 helicopter safety documentation from its Russian makers and given the material to Afghan forces using the aircraft.
The Alabama company said Mi-17 manufacturers OEMs regularly issue safety and maintenance bulletins for the aircraft models they have produced but the Afghan fleet of Mi-17 is largely composed of older, donated aircraft, many with uncertain maintenance histories and missing documentation.
"The U.S. Army has been trying to acquire these historical bulletins for some time. Unfortunately, by Russian law, foreign militaries cannot contract directly with the Mi-17 OEMs," said DTI Afghan Program Manager Byron Kreck. "Instead, they must work through the Russian government middlemen FSMTC and Rosoboronexport, which makes even a simple transaction, such as purchasing commercial documentation, into a costly and complicated ordeal.
"DTI works side by side with the Afghan and U.S. soldiers flying and maintaining these aircraft. As the lack of these maintenance bulletins was a flight safety issue, DTI decided purchasing and donating these documents was simply the right thing to do."
Kreck said DTI acquired the bulletins, which include those issued since 1992, directly from the Mi-17 OEMs Ulan Ude and Kazan.
DTI provides complete Mi-17 life-cycle support including acquiring new aircraft, spares, maintenance, training, repairs and overhauls. In 2009, DTI delivered four new Mi-17 aircraft to Afghanistan in just 46 days after contract award.
The company said that with offices in Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, DTI is well positioned to support Afghanistan's Mi-17 requirements.
