The Army commander General Joseph Aoun arrived yesterday aboard a military helicopter to the Ras Baalbek area to participate in the ceremony of declaring the completion of explosives clearance in the area of Arsal and Ras Baalbek, but it is noteworthy that General Aoun moved aboard an AB-212 military helicopter, after it had stopped flying since 1990.

In detail, the Agusta Bell 212 rafts were purchased in the eighties and stopped serving in 1989 due to the war, and circumstances prevented them from being able to return to service due to the damage they suffered, in addition to the unavailability of repair components only by sending them abroad at a high cost.

At this level, the military institution proves its exceptional capabilities in employing the expertise possessed by the Air Force elements, as well as various army units, technicians and experts, who have shown high professionalism in providing equipment readiness and maintenance, and demonstrated high merit and won a difficult bet by their success in repairing one of the helicopters at the lowest possible cost, in light of the austerity policy pursued by the military as a result of the economic crisis.