Atlas planes ready for relief op

FOR the first time, the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) new A400M Atlas transport aircraft have been put on standby for relief missions, should the year-end flood situation take a turn for the worse.

Two of the aircraft will join five others — Nuri and Eurocopter Cougar EC725 helicopters and Hercules C-130 transport aircraft — in the operation codenamed Op Murni.

RMAF chief General Tan Sri Roslan Saad said the air force was ready to mobilise its aircraft whenever they were needed to assist with flood-relief missions, especially in the east coast.

“We have activated our assets, including our men, to be deployed, other than identifying which location would need the most attention during floods.

“Our Nuri, EC725, Hercules C-130 and A400M are ready to be deployed,” he said after presenting awards to RMAF personnel.

The Atlas is designated as a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities as it can be adapted to perform long-range cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, aerial refuelling and electronic surveillance missions.

What makes it ideal for disaster relief missions is its ability to land and take off from short airstrips, even unprepared ones.

ASSETS ACTIVATED: RMAF chief says aircraft on standby for flood missions