U.N. Agency Seeks More Helo Vendors

The World Food Program needs more qualified helicopter-support vendors around the globe, the head of that U.N. agency's aviation unit told Rotor & Wing. Pierre Carrasse said the agency at any one time has 60 aircraft in the field, most of which are fixed-wing. But the contracted helicopters it fields play key roles in bringing relief supplies to areas that fixed-wing aircraft and trucks can't reach. The need for such support is growing as the frequency of natural disasters increases, he said. For instance, seasonal flooding in East Africa historically occurs every five years but has been an annual event since 2005. The agency relies on approved contractors to supply its aircraft, but needs more of them, Carrasse said, particularly in Central America, Australia and Southeast Asia. Headquartered in Rome, the World Food Program is the lead U.N. agency in the fight against global hunger. For related news