Hundreds of peasants from Bihor county have been spreading herbicides on their lands by help of a helicopter, for more than six years. They rent it from the only helicopter owner in the county, Neculai Dogaru, and, although it may seem odd, the charge for renting the helicopter for such an operation is lower than renting a tractor.
Tractor owners charge 180,000-200,000 lei for one hectare of land on which herbicides must be spread, while renting a helicopter for the same operation costs only 150,000/hectare. Besides, the tractor sometimes harms the cultures, which cannot be restored afterwards.
As the tractor does not spread the herbicide properly, a higher amount of herbicide must be used. Moreover, the tractor works more slowly, as compared to a helicopter, which may spread herbicide on 700-800 hectares daily.
The only person owning a helicopter in Bihor is Neculai Dogaru, an engineer having settled in Oradea in the '70s. He used to work for several institutions dealing with land improvement. He decided to establish his own company in 1994 and started the activity by renting three helicopters from Ukraine.
He brought pilots and mechanics from the Republic of Moldova and Russia. "They are more serious, skilled and they do not ask for so much money," he says.
He built the base at Fughiu, where the helicopters rest on two concrete platforms. Neculai started the works at a hangar in the neighbourhood. He bought a helicopter last year, he painted it in Romania's national colours and registered it at Bucharest-based Civil Aeronautic Authority Register as YR-DOG.
Few people were willing to rent a helicopter at the beginning. "They thought it was expensive and preferred to work with the tractor," Neculai says.
But it only took one peasant who gave it a try and the others quickly rushed. Inhabitants from Diosig, Inand, Cefa or Salonta now rent the helicopter every year for agricultural works.
One of the most loyal clients is Ioan Bochis from Inand. "I have 158 hectares planted with maize, wheat and sunflower. I rent the helicopter every year and, besides, Mr Dogaru is a kind person.
He can wait for me to pay the work when I do not have the money, but he sends the helicopters as we agreed and without any delay.
People in the country are astonished and they think I pay a fortune to spread herbicides. But they are actually paying more as they use the tractor."
There are nine such companies in Romania. Two of them are based in Timisoara, and the others are in Tuzla, Calarasi, Iasi, Bucharest, Barlad and Craiova. Oradea-based Fly, which belongs to Neculai Dogaru, is one of the oldest in Romania.
Dogaru's helicopter is a Kamokov Ka-26 model, one of the best multifunctional aircraft manufactured in the former Soviet Union. Launched in 1964, it has two Vedeneev piston engines 325 HP each.
More than 850 units were manufactured, having been sold in 15 countries. It is considered a successful model, as it is easy to manoeuvre and has a low fuel consumption.
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