KARACHI, March 17: A roll-out ceremony was held on the completion of the overhaul of the first MI-171 helicopter of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) at Rotary Wing Centre of Excellence at PAF Base Faisal.

This was stated in a press release of the directorate of media affairs, PAF, here on Monday.

It said that the Air Officer Commanding Southern Air Command, Air Marshal Mirza Zafar Hussain, was chief guest on the occasion. He was received by Group Captain Arshad Khalil, Officer Commanding No 102 AED, PAF.

The office commanding gave an overview of the history of the MI-171 helicopter and the procedure adopted for its overhaul.

MI-171 helicopters were inducted in the PAF in 2002. The MI-171 helicopter has a time between overhaul (TBO) of 1500 hrs.

The first PAF helicopter was inducted for overhaul in September 2007. The overhaul was jointly undertaken by a team of experts from 102 AED PAF Faisal and M/s Avia Export of Russia.

Most of the inspections and structural repairs were under taken locally at Rotary Wing Centre of Excellence at 102 AED PAF Faisal.This achievement has further enhanced the capability of the PAF for undertaking overhaul of yet another type of helicopter after Allouette III at the PAF facilities.

In his address, the chief guest congratulated the officers of No 102 AED and lauded the efforts of M/s Avia Export.

He said that without the support from the Russian experts the accomplishment of this task could not have been possible.—APP