A Brazilian Air Force (FAB) worked with Corsan Aegea (Companhia Riograndense de Saneamento) to reestablish the drinking water supply in Cachoeira do Sul (RS). The complex operation, carried out last Wednesday (15), saw a H-60 Black Hawk helicopter transport a generator to recover the water supply in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, heavily affected by floods.
The municipality had neighborhoods without drinking water for three days, a situation that is also repeated in several other locations in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. According to FAB, water covered the electrical substation that supplies energy to the city's removal, treatment and supply pumps.
Therefore, the old generator, damaged by the flood, needed to be removed so that equipment could be placed in its place. In both cases, the task needed to be carried out by helicopter, as the water did not yet allow trucks to reach the site. The mission was coordinated by the Pantera Squadron, a unit at Santa Maria Air Base, which has been responding to floods since the first days of the disaster.
“The generator weighed around three and a half tons, a weight that is close to the limit of our aircraft. And for the new generator to arrive at the location, it was necessary for the old one that failed to be removed”, says Major Aviator Yuri Carneiro de Souza, one of those responsible for planning and executing the mission. “As everything is flooded in the region, the only way to restore the water system was through a t operation with the sanitation company.”
To lift the old generator, it was necessary to open the roof of the structure, which was already damaged by the rain and could not be used as . The cutout had a gap of just 80 centimeters on each side, making operation even more difficult. “Much greater expertise was needed considering all factors, such as mooring, lifting, the flooded area, the damaged structure and the helicopter’s own wind, which could destabilize the rescue men”, explains the Major.
After removing the damaged equipment, the Black Hawk lifted and positioned the new generator in the substation, allowing the recovery of clean water supply for thousands of gauchos. Although highly complex and delicate, the mission was carried out successfully, demonstrating the military's expertise.
“So we planned considering several safety factors to mitigate all risks. It was a very remarkable mission due to the high level of technical expertise and the impact it had on that population”, concludes Major Yuri.
Brazilian Air Force: ALWAYS PRESENT WHEREVER BRAZIL NEEDS IT!
Coordination: Aerospace Operations Command (COMAE)#FAB #AsasQueProtegemOPáis #OurStrengthWhereBrazilNeeds #FAB24hNoAr #AsasQueSalvam #Military #Humanitarian help #OperaçãoTaquari2... pic.twitter.com/xzMIv4Mhi9— Brazilian Air Force 🇧🇷 (@fab_official) May 17, 2024
On the same day, the Pantera Squadron carried out a mission to remove soldiers from an Armored Rifle Platoon of the Brazilian Army in the Quarta Colônia region, central region of Rio Grande do Sul.
The platoon carried out area reconnaissance missions, identification of local residents, pre-hospital care in emergency cases, supply of controlled-use medicines in immediate need, distribution of basic food baskets in isolated regions and fuel supply in regions where there is only electricity. using a generator. Still on the same mission, the crew of the FAB's H-60L Black Hawk delivered basic food baskets, medicines and fuel to areas that had been identified by the EB military.
With information from Air Force.
