Heli Air currently has a fleet of four Mi-8Ps. These are expected to be good for at least seven to ten more years of operations.

Heli Air's rotary-wing fleet includes only passenger derivatives of the Mi- 8. They are converted for cargo transport or under-slung work as required.

Mi-8 LZ-CAV wearing UN Humanitarian Air Service titles in a typical Sudanese environment.

The Mi-8's service life is set at 35 years, with prospects for an extension to 40 years.

Additional equipment has been added to the older Mi-8PS to meet mandatory ICAO requirements for international operations in VFR conditions to support UN missions in Africa. These include weather radar and a new mode-S transponder.

Heli Air has used its Mi-8s and Mi-17s for the fire-fighting role. This shot shows an internal tank and plumbing used to carry and dispense fire retardant.

One of the four An-12s operated by Heli Air until March 2007. Three were sold following the ban on An-12 operations in Bulgaria. The fourth resides in front of Heli Air's hangar at Sofia Airport.

The L-410 has proved to be the right aircraft for Heli Air. It is remarkably robust and affordable to operate and maintain in austere African conditions.

A Heli Air L-410's cockpit during maintenance work.

A Heli Air Mi-8MTV supplies humanitarian aid at remote mountain location in Pakistan.

Mi-8MTV-1 LZ-CDT delivers humanitarian supplies in Pakistan in the mid-2000s.

In the past Heli Air has subcontracted Mi-8s, Mi-8MTV-1s and Mi-17s for fire-fighting work in Turkey and Portugal.