Canadian operator Helijet International is donating a fully operational, medically-equipped helicopter from its fleet to be used for missions of mercy in Ukraine. Helijet has signed an agreement with a consortium of Canadian and Ukrainian non-governmental organisations comprising Maple Hope Foundation, the Ukrainian World Congress and Initiative E+ to accept the delivery and title of a Sikorsky S-76A air ambulance helicopter. Together, the three organisations have been working with Helijet over the span of eight months to arrange the shipment of the aircraft to Ukraine.

The Sikorsky S-76A is a fully equipped air medical helicopter that Helijet had previously provided under contract to the Canadian Ministry of Health for patient transport in British Columbia. The aircraft has now been recently removed from that service but still has years of flight capability remaining. The gift is made on condition that the helicopter is used solely for non-commercial, humanitarian and medical evacuation missions to airlift individuals in need of urgent medical care to hospitals in Ukraine.

In November, Helijet and the Vancouver-based Maple Hope Foundation hosted two pilots and two engineers from Ukraine who came to Canada to receive flight, maintenance and deployment training for the helicopter at Helijet’s Richmond, B.C. base of operations. To assist in the shipment of the helicopter, the Maple Hope Foundation also launched a national online crowdfunding campaign that allowed Ukrainians from across Canada join the mission of delivering this life-saving helicopter. The campaign raised $101,530 in three weeks from more than 730 donors.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, Helijet has also been providing relief assistance on other fronts including facilitating the staging of medical supply shipments coordinated and secured by Maple Hope Foundation bound for Ukraine at its Richmond hangar. Helijet president Danny Sitnam and his family opened their home in April of 2022 and supported a family of three, fleeing from the Ukraine until they could find a home of their own in Vancouver.

“We’ve since become great friends with this family,” says Sitnam. “Supporting them was just the start of a commitment we made at Helijet to help Maple Hope Foundation as the unrelenting struggle with Russia continues for the people of Ukraine.”

“This project represents the culmination of a deeply meaningful partnership between Helijet and our organisation, one that began during a time of crisis,” adds Svitlana Kominko, CEO, Maple Hope Foundation. “When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and displaced Ukrainians began arriving in Canada in unprecedented numbers, Danny Sitnam and his family were among the first to extend a helping hand. Since that moment, Danny and the entire Helijet team have been unwavering in their support of Maple Hope’s relief efforts for Ukraine. Helijet’s donation of the Sikorsky S-76 medevac helicopter is not only extraordinarily generous, but also historically significant, demonstrating the resolve of Canadians united in support for Ukraine during the third year of the full-scale invasion, not through words but bold, transformative actions that will directly save lives.”

“The incredible donation of the Sikorsky S-76A medevac helicopter by Helijet is a powerful testament to the unbreakable bond and unwavering support from Ukraine’s allies in Canada,” explains Paul Grod, president, Ukrainian World Congress. “This life-saving air ambulance will be a game-changer, delivering critical medical aid to those suffering in the war-torn regions of Ukraine. On behalf of the Ukrainian World Congress, I extend my deepest gratitude to Danny Sitnam and the entire Helijet team for their heroic commitment to aiding the people of Ukraine during these challenging times. We also owe immense thanks to the Maple Hope Foundation for its relentless dedication to making this collaboration possible. Together, we are not just saving lives; we are igniting hope and making a monumental impact.”

Appropriately enough, the Sikorsky S-76A donated is a product of US-based Sikorsky Aircraft founded a century ago by Kyiv-born helicopter inventor Igor Sikorsky shortly after he emigrated to the United States.

His son Sergei Sikorsky also worked for the company during his long career in aviation and today carries on the family’s aviation legacy. “When my father and his company developed this aircraft, I’m sure he never would have predicted that the people of Ukraine, who now find life very difficult, would benefit decades later from his genius and expertise. The Sikorsky name has been synonymous with helicopter innovation for 100 years and now will be part of this generous effort that comes full circle to help today’s generation in his very own homeland.”