Saving lives with Ecuador's H145 "Arpías"

When Ecuadorian nature unleashes its fury, there are no hiding places that will do. Facing forest fires, extreme flooding, or destructive mudslides, the Ecuadorian Air Force's H145 Harpies deploy to the most inaccessible corners of the country to protect and save lives.

The 2113 Combat Squadron of the Ecuadorian Air Force has operated six versatile H145s - nicknamed "Arpías" (Harpies) in honour of South America's largest apex predator bird - since 2021. Major Andrés Ascazubi, squadron commander, highlights their wide operational scope extends beyond combat rescue: 

Thanks to the H145's versatility, we also perform transport, reconnaissance, medical evacuation, surveillance, external cargo, and hoist rescue missions whenever required nationwide.

Captain Carlos Pacheco Morales details this operational reach as "high operability, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We operate across the entire country, in all terrain, and in all places. We can reach - and have reached - the Coast, the Highlands, and the Amazon regions." This availability reached a milestone in May 2026: 7,000 operational flight hours logged without registering any incidents or accidents in the country.

Ecuadorian Air Force crew gearing up the mission

H145 helicopter operations: Firefighting and flood response 

Following the winter season, Ecuador faces extreme droughts that have caused massive forest fires in areas such as Loja, Cuenca, and even Quito. Against the flames, the Squadron uses the H145s equipped with the Bambi Bucket system, surgically dropping up to 1,200 liters of water per release. "For me, the missions that have left the biggest impact have been firefighting, since we were able to assist and save lives across four different provinces in the country," recounts Captain Héctor Ignacio Loayza Godoy. "We dropped approximately 30,000 litres of water in total during the 2025 fire season. They were long days of work, but with the H145, we accomplished the mission without any issues."

The aircraft's easy reconfiguration, versatility, and load capacity have also proven invaluable during floods - streamlining medical evacuations, delivering humanitarian aid, and providing survival kits. "The technology of the H145 is unmatched: it is such a reliable helicopter that we are 100% sure we will reach the location where we are needed, at the exact time requested, and meeting all safety standards," adds Captain Pacheco Morales.

Ecuadorian Air Force hoisting victim

The 2113 Combat Squadron: The pride of feeling valued

Beyond the technology of their H145s, the true driving force of the squadron is its values. "Integrity and mutual trust are extremely important to our Squadron," explains Major Andrés Ascazubi. "I am very proud of our pilots because, while life among helicopters demands many sacrifices and we spend many days away from home, we return happy knowing that the people we serve are satisfied with our work."

Ecuadorian Air Force crew stands poised in front of an H145 helicopter

The commander explains that by mitigating floods, extinguishing fires, and evacuating the sick in isolated areas, "the H145 helicopters in Ecuador have served to elevate the image of the Air Force, as the public sees it not as a weapon, but as a service to the population." As Corporal Kevin Marfetán concludes: "When we rescue or help a person, the satisfaction of a job well done is something grand; knowing that we contributed to saving a life is priceless."

Rescued person hoisted into an H145 helicopter cabin