Dakar is known as the world’s toughest off-road race. In the skies and unseen by the TV cameras, this spectacle – which takes place from January 4-17, 2015 – is followed by seven Airbus Helicopters Ecureuil AS350 B3s. These helicopters provide spectacular images of the event and have an even more important role to play if one of the competitors gets hurt.
A race over 9,000 kilometers: cars, motorcycles, quads and trucks speed through the desert in temperatures of up to 46°C, cross the Andes at 19,000 feet and pass the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flatland in the world measuring more than 10,000 square kilometres. This is the Dakar rally, widely regarded as the toughest off-road race in the world. Participants follow a route around Argentina, Chile and Bolivia crossing dunes, mud and rocks. Last year, only half the drivers made it to the finish.
The 37th edition of the Dakar rally started in Buenos Aires on January 4. While on the ground the drivers battle through 13 stages under extreme conditions, they are followed in the air by seven Ecureuil AS350 B3 helicopters, operated by the Chilean operator Ecocopter, who has for the sixth time been awarded the contract to support the Dakar, with its partners Kypreos and Suma Air.
Three of these helicopters are dedicated to filming, two conduct emergency transport of injured people, one is used for the rally’s director and the seventh is responsible for the transport of VIPs, journalists and photographers.
Fernando Perez is the pilot of this last helicopter. As he explains, the race isn’t just an extreme test for drivers and their vehicles: “Sand, sea and salt are also very harsh for the aircraft’s equipment. However, the helicopters must be operative all day and every day, which means any maintenance must be done during short periods at night.”
As a pilot, too, Dakar is a challenging mission. Fernando does an average of seven flight hours a day and covers around 500 kilometres on each day of the race. To follow the contestants, the helicopters have to fly at 100 feet, “which means we have to pay much more attention to cables and other obstacles”, he explains. “This type of flight is very exhausting for the crew.”
But these difficulties can be mastered thanks to the experience of the crew and the capabilities of the aircraft. “The Ecureuil has shown great performance in heat and at high altitude, as well as great power and versatility,” says Fernando. “It has proven to be very efficient and reliable. And the simple maintenance was helpful as well.”
Even though the primary role of Fernando’s helicopter is to transport media representatives, he once helped out after an accident in the race. One of the motorcyclists had an elbow fracture and Fernando flew him to the Dakar camp hospital.
Asked if he could imagine switching seats with one of the competitors, he laughs: “I really enjoy being part of the world’s greatest rally, but I know my place and that’s as a helicopter pilot, ready to help out whenever needed – whether it’s passing on a water bottle or providing medical equipment. This is the most satisfactory part of Dakar for me.”
Text by Beata Cece
Photo © Fernando Perez - 2015
