Even the 2nd Ultra-Large Helicopter Delayed... "Due Next June"

[Anchor]

As we have reported continuously since last month, the Korea Forest Service's project to introduce ultra-large helicopters to prepare for massive wildfires is faltering from the very beginning. Now, it has been confirmed that even the delivery of the second helicopter, which was scheduled to arrive next month, has been delayed by more than seven months.

The concerns have ultimately become reality, and reporter Jang Min-seong has the details.

[Reporter]

This is the second ultra-large wildfire-fighting helicopter that the Korea Forest Service contracted with a U.S. company.

It is a 1967 military helicopter formerly used by the U.S. military that has been remanufactured for wildfire suppression, with a single unit price reaching 44.7 billion won.

It was originally scheduled to be brought in by the 30th of next month, but it has been confirmed that the company notified the Korea Forest Service last month that it would not be able to meet the delivery deadline.

The company stated that it would delay the delivery by seven months to the end of June next year.

Reports indicate the reasons are the failure to obtain essential safety certifications from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as well as difficulties in meeting the manufacturing schedule.

The problem is that this does not end with just the second unit.

The first unit is immediately scheduled to arrive by June next year, and the third unit by December next year, but there is no guarantee that the certification process, which typically takes several years, will be completed by then.

With the delivery of the first unit already delayed by a year and a half, followed now by the delay of the second unit, the timely introduction of the remaining five helicopters has also become unclear.

Despite this situation, the Korea Forest Service has failed to secure even basic information to verify the company's contract performance capabilities, such as its financial status or actual manufacturing progress.

Without even being able to gauge how much the certification will be delayed, the agency is practically relying solely on the company's statements.

[Voice: Kim Man-ju / Head of the Aerial Forest Firefighting Headquarters (in August): Under the current circumstances, if you (the U.S. company) fail, what we notified you is strictly liquidated damages. If you fail to deliver the second unit...]

The Korea Forest Service stated that it has sent a letter urging the company to fulfill the contract, and that if the contract conditions are not met, it will review not only recovering the deposit but also terminating the contract.

However, it seems difficult to avoid criticism that lax contract management has invited project instability.

(Video by: Seol Min-hwan | Video Editing by: Kim Jong-tae | Graphics: Choi Jae-young, Kim Min-young, Byun Da-young | VJ: Kim Jun-ho | Data provided by: Office of Seo Sam-seok, Chairperson of the National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee | Video courtesy of: Columbia Helicopters YouTube | YouTube and SNS sources: Jarasum Yeonggu, Jirisan Sancheongsari, Bichawa Nallteul, Film Master)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.