Carl Hakansson

NATIONALITY | Swedish

WHERE DOES HE FLY | Mostly in Sweden but has flown all over Europe and various missions in Asia and Africa

HELI TYPES FLOWN | 500hr in AS350 and also flies EC120, B206/L, B205, B212, MD500 and BO105

YEARS FLYING | 21

TOTAL HOURS FLOWN | over 10,500

TOTAL HOURS LONG LINE | Has exclusively flown aerial work all his career

MISSIONS FLOWN | Liming work, firefighting, construction, logging, precision mast, high bridge work, powerline construction

VRHA CARD # | 007

CURRENT & PREVIOUS JOBS | Started my flying career back in 1989 with Osterman Helicopter and have been there ever since. Had the role of Chief Pilot between 2004-2006 and Head of Ops from 2006-2008. I’m currently the Chief Line check Instructor for Osterman and concentrate on all the construction and precision long line jobs. Right at the moment we are in the middle of a 3yr powerline construction project in the Swedish mountains

MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOB | To be sure that my skills are up to the challenge so that I know what I’m doing

MOST CHALLENGING JOB FLOWN | The construction of a 112m TV mast 3m beside an already standing 115m TV mast. The job had been started by a crane but they gave up once they reached 50m because there was too many wires in the way. It was decided to try by helicopter and go from above. We started with a 55m longline to deliver a 1ton 6m long mast section at 50m and reduced the longline by 6m at a time as we moved upwards.

FAVOURITE LONG LINE JOB | They all have their challenges but I must say that fire fighting, although serious in nature, is fun.

ADVICE FOR PILOTS WANTING TO GET INTO THE LONG LINE BUSINESS | Definitely get some VR & long line training before sending out job applications, it will be a big plus. Most companies here in Scandinavia will put you through an extensive training course before sending you out on the production line but with VRHA training at least you will be ahead of the pack when it comes to employment opportunities

INTERESTING FACTS | Well over 250 high precision mast construction jobs | Has flown 100m lines for precision equipment lifts | Developed training program for the AS350 for Osterman

1 | Carl flies over Gothenburg 2 | Using the floor window in the AS350 3 | Preparing the heli for a bridge construction lift 4 | The B205 5 | Lifting a spire onto the top of a hotel in Gothenburg 6 | Bridge precision work with a 100ft line 7 | Mast construction in between trees