Downwash: Army helicopter removes snow from power lines

The Austrian Federal Army was on a “snow clearing mission” in Upper Styria on Sunday, December 3, 2023. For this purpose, an AB212 helicopter carried out a so-called “downwash” maneuver.

It is a flight maneuver in which, due to the very low overflight, the downdrafts generated by the rotor clear the vegetation of precipitation. Due to the location, the operational services at the FIALA FERNBRUGG air base in Aigen im Ennstal were also put into service to support the operation through refueling and air traffic control. Another AB212 was alerted for any further requirements.

“Here, as the Federal Army, we are once again demonstrating our permanent operational readiness. Not only the avalanche rescue teams, but also our helicopters are on standby at short notice to help where others can no longer. “Especially in view of the current events, we are pleased to be able to modernize our helicopter fleet and supplement it with the new Leonardo AW169, which is currently in production,” said Defense Minister Tanner about the assistance mission that has been triggered.