The world's largest helicopter, the Russian MI-26, recently arrived in Canada to help companies search for oil and gas properties in the Mackenzie Delta and Mackenzie Valley of northwestern Canada. The Mackenzie delta has a short drilling season and companies rely on ice roads from mid-December to late-March for the deliveries. When there is no ice, these areas are without roads and runways, and thus need helicopters to deliver heavy equipment and supplies. Enter the MI-26. It is capable of delivering an air-portable drilling platform without significantly disturbing the local ecosystem - a huge sticking point with environmentalists and local First Nations bands.
展开▼
