SA 315B Lama
 

Does anyone have any info on how many Lamas are left flying and which countries remain the biggest operators, is it still Switzerland and Italy?

Are there any plans to keep them going?

Hello AE,

24 used by 7 operators in Switzerland, Heli Glaciers is the biggest with 12 Lamas.
.

A reliable source of Alouette & Lama info
ALOUETTE & LAMA

... current operators - ALOUETTE & LAMA

In Italy there are still quite a few Lamas but they are gradually getting phased out.
The internet page posted here by zishelix does not give the correct info about lamas flying in Italy. There are many more companies than just Airgreen.
Just of the top of my head I can name 3 companies that operate lamas on Italy Airstar, Elimast, Elifly and others

Pellissier Helicopters in Aosta just recently added one to their fleet. And there is one based in NZ up north being used for ag work. Haven't seen many here in the USA though.

Ciao Haihio!

You are correct.

There are around 46 Lamas/Alouette II's registered in Italy (less than there used to be) of which I think about 18 are currently flying.

I stand to be corrected.

Currently registered Lamas and Alouette II's in Italy:

I-AFET
I-AMAY
I-APEX
I-ASIO
I-BLIM (Alouette II)
I-BXWB
I-BXWD
I-BXWE
I-BXWF
I-COOP
I-CTEC
I-CUDP (Alouette II)
I-DEBS (Alouette II)
I-DOCG (Alouette II)
I-EFLY
I-ETIK
I-FLAC (Alouette II)
I-FLAR
I-FLAX
I-FVBD
I-FVPD
I-GREN
I-ICGR
I-IRPI
I-ISAF
I-MAEL
I-MERC
I-MICU
I-MROS
I-MURE
I-NKAS
I-OLEY
I-PAAD (Alouette II)
I-PAFA (Alouette II)
I-PATI
I-PCET (Alouette II)
I-PITO
I-PLLY (Alouette II)
I-PRVV
I-SERY
I-SESI (Alouette II)
I-SOCO
I-SOFI
I-SOND
I-SWSA (Alouette II)
I-VIOL

In early-2010 Eurocopter announced that the Lama and the Alouette III will be supported until the end of the decade.. 2020 that is. The type certificate is said to be revoked that year. They showed some graphs with the active Lamas throughout the world, but I don't remember the numbers though..

We have one here in Sweden, as well as two Alouette IIIs.

Part 147(B1.3) Lama Training
 

Am delighted to see fellow Ppruners who love this aircraft as much as I do :)

For info.
I have a JV arrangement with a fully CAA/EASA approved Part 147 Company for the B1.3 course, which we completed before Christmas 2012 at the request of a company in Asia. They had approached EC for a training course, but were told no such animal exists any more, :uhoh: so we spent a great deal of time putting the course together, and gaining full approval for it from all the interested Regulatory Authorities

If anyone is interested please pm for more details.
(Mods - I apologise if this may be considered 'advertising' but it isn't intended that way, just there may be some organisations out there who could use a course and there aren't currently any available than ours - unless some one else knows differently, of course).

In my book it is still a unique and wonderful aircraft :D
Best to all - VFR

If this was only about Lamas in civil aviation this info is pretty accurate.However, if you include Lamas and Alouettes in military service then no list would be complete without naming India.The Armed Forces of that country have more than a few hundred of both types, with the indian Army fielding the lion's share of Lamas because of their high altitude needs.Of course, they are license manufactured under Indian names (Cheetah and Chetak respectively) by Hindustan Areonautics Limited.Last I read, the country was looking for a suitable replacement for both types and for all three services as well as their pretty substantial para military arms.But,given their slow and bureaucratic acquisition process, it will be well past the end of this decade before the stalwarts of the Aerospatiale stable are put to pasture.
Alt3.

I appologize, seems I pointed out you on the part of the website which is not updated yet :O Please find a better (and more accurate ;)) overview here Zenfolio | Pierre GILLARD | Alouette & Lama ... or check out individual A&L histories my friend and the website owner trying to complete day after day Alouette & Lama :D

Btw, he intend to became a PPRuNer later, too busy to join us now ;)

VFR440 where's the course being held?

VFR: Well done on this initiative. Bravo! :D

I wish you every success.

Given the fact that I was weaned on executive aircraft, some may be surprised to learn that the Lama is in fact one of my all time favourite helicopters.

For while she looks as though she may have been designed by Frank Hornby, and though she shakes like a drunk in withdrawal, and despite the poor leg room of her rear-seat passengers, and even though she can't accommodate their baggage, yet .. for her size, her performance is dazzling .. and who, pray tell, can resist the exquisite shrill of her ancient Artouste as it leaps into life - a call to flight for anyone within a kilometre of her frame!

And all this talk of Lamas reminds of a little poem I once read, composed by a boy who had once watched live Lamas working in the Italian Alps.


Lama dear lama, rugged and rare,
built with conviction, a strong sturdy mare.

Who can compare, with your perspex and tin,
for even you fly, while lacking a fin!

Even the Dalai, who shares in your name,
could never deny, supporting your gain.

Your framework and wires, might others repel,
but for me you shall always be my dear belle.

Fly high lovely lama, breathing thin air,
for there you belong, for those who will dare.

One of my favorite :

(Pyrénées France)


Une journée avec PAGES Hélicoptères - Helico-Fascination

http://nsa32.casimages.com/img/2013/...0532254897.jpg

Bellissima! :ok:

Skydance in the US use Lama's to support seismic drills. they look like fantastic longline platforms.
i've never been in one but i'd like to try one out!

Hi.
EASA regulation does not mandate a theoretical training to add type rating to the AML. As Lama is a single engined helicopter, demonstration of experience plus examination is enough. It's very difficult to find someone wishing to afford type training plus practical element costs to add a single engine to the license.

Two great videos of the surprisingly nimble Lama. I could watch this first video a hundred times and never get bored.



500 Fan.

Hey, Cleared Hot, what's your game???? you're in LA and you know that Pellisier helicopter in italy added a Lama to their fleet and some other guys in New Zealand are using Lamas. Are you spying on us all!!!!!!!!:)


[YOUTUBE]



Lama fans: check out these videos!:)

Ciao Savoia, Saluti dal Lago di Como!

Lamas and engineering training
 

Piggybank - Course location would normally be at your maintenance base. We have duly approved facilities in UK near Oxford, but the rub is we must have an aircraft (close) which we can visit and identify all the parts discussed during the theoretical training. Unfortunately there are no longer any Lamas G-registered, or, AFAIK, based in UK. That's the only stumbling block. CAA have been hard work but accept remote site approval with procedure/checklist highlighted in the MTOE. We have a portfolio of courses and have completed training in Asia, Middle East and Africa on this basis.

Soloviev - I am sure your statement is/may be correct in your country.One of the VERY tedious aspects of Part 147 is that EASA have devolved admin of the approvals to the local NAA, thus the aspect you highlight is, unfortunately, not across-the-board. So far we have completed training in several European countries, to the EASA standard, and yet on completion there are always queries raised by the individual NAAs. It's extremely frustrating. (and leads to the consumption of huge quantities of Vino Rosso - Savoia would approve :ok:)

More seriously we sought the wisdom of the CAA's Man-in-Charge on this point and Licensing and Training Standards were firm on the point (adamant in fact) that since the Eurocopter SA315B Lama/TM Artouste III has an EASA C of A, training standards would have to be to a Part 147 approval. ECF, as inherited TCH, don't do it any more, of course.

And you are quite right, the practical element is not as involved as that prescribed for Twins and more complex helicopters, but a complete, not necessarily airworthy, aircraft with engine was a requirement to fulfil at least the intent of the practical element.Note that the pre-requisites for undertaking our approved course specifically includes prior experience, and thus the duration is just two weeks long; 1 each for A/F and engine, and the end result is a duly approved Part 66 certificate that is presented to the Regulatory authority, together with the prescribed fee to have the endorsement made as the type-rating upon your Part 66 AML

We understand that your defined route of experience, worksheets and exam only applies to Annex 2 aircraft for which EASA has not validated a C of A, and thus National Rules apply (and this includes a National Licence; it is not legal to sign off an NAA aircraft with a Part 66 licence).

As I say, it would be helpful if all members of the EASA 'club' were to sing from the same hymn sheet - not the case at present.

S- mille grazie, we try (and we do pretty much only drink Italian wine - just huge quantities of it................:))

VFR

In EASA rolling mill world, RIP friendly Lamas and Alouettes...:sad:

Now, composites, digital monitoring and plastic brains. Next, drones....

Pilots, the weak link, will become optional ....