On 1 May 2012, Heliswiss International Kamov Ka-32A12 HB-XKE was photographed when on duty with lifting parts of the mast at the TV tower of Smilde. Used as aerial crane the helicopter can lift up to 5 tons suspended on its barycentric hook. The TV tower of Smilde collapsed in July 2011 after a fire. The concrete tower of 82 meters is already repaired. The mast will be placed at this concrete tower to give a total high of 303 meters.

The Kamov Ka-32A12 is a twin-engine transport helicopter with co-axial, counter-rotating rotor system. The Kamov Ka-32 was developed by the Kamov company as a civil transport helicopter based on the Ka-27 submarine hunter helicopter and features the design characteristics typical of Kamov: a compact fuselage of very robust construction with a co-axial rotor system. The Ka-32A12 is powered by two Klimov TV3-117VMA turboshaft engines through the VR-252 gearbox to the two, three bladed co-axial rotors. The maximum take-off weight is 11,000 kg plus a maximum 5000 kg external load up to a maximum weight of 12,700 kg. The Kamov KA32A12 can accomodate 2 crew and 16 passengers. Development of Ka-27/32 began 1969 as replacement of the Kamov Ka-25; first flight of the common Ka-27 prototype was in December 1974; first Ka-32 (CCCP-04173) flew 8 October 1980. The Kamov Ka-32 (NATO reporting name 'Helix C') variants include the transport Ka-32T and shipborne Ka-32S. The Ka-32T version is designed for cargo and passenger transport both inside the cabin and externally on a sling, logging in hard access areas, to fulfill civil engineering and installation work, construction, search/rescue missions, medevac and off-shore oil rings servicing operations and various types of aerial survey. The Ka-32S version is designed for carrying out ice prospecting during the steering of the convoys of ships, their unloading, performance of rescue operations at sea and acting as ambulances. Manufacturer of the Kamov KA-32 is Kamov Company Lubertsy, Moscow Region Russian Federation and KumAPP Company Kumertau, Bashkortostan Republic Russian Federation. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Ka-32A helicopters is KA27.

The 1992-built Kamov Ka-32S c/n 8709 was registered CCCP-31587 in the Soviet Union on 7 April 1992. Registration CCCP-31587 is in Cyrillic and means SSSR-31587. Although the type of Kamov c/n 8709 is given as Ka-32S, it has to be a Ka-32A as the Ka-32S is the Maritime utility transport, search and rescue helicopter, fitted with an undernose radar and the Ka-32A the initial production version of the Civil transport helicopter. After the Soviet Union was split up, the Kamov Ka-32A was registered RA-31587 in Russia. In 1993, the RA-31587 was imported into Switzerland as Ka-32A and entered service with Heliswiss AG, Belp. After extensive conversion work and validation by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (Bundesamt für Zivilluftfahrt), it received registration mark HB-XKE and was now designated KA-32A12. The c/n changed to 8709/02. On 5 June 1996, registration RA-31587 was cancelled as exported to Switzerland. On 12 June 1996, the helicopter was registered HB-XKE with Heliswiss AG, Belp, as operator and Heli-Kamov AG as owner. On 26 March 2002, Kamov HB-XKE was severely damaged in an accident at "Ufem Schoren" municipality of Neuenegg/canton of Berne. In December 2002, the HB-XKE returned in service after rebuilt. On 15 January 2003, Kamov Ka-32A12 HB-XKE was registered with Heliswiss and on 1 January 2005, Helog-Heliswiss became the operator of Kamov HB-XKE. On 3 May 2007, the helicopter was registered with Helog-Heliswiss, Küssnacht am Rigi, as operator and Heliswiss Schweizerische Helikopter AG as owner. On 5 March 2008, Kamov Ka-32A12 HB-XKE was registered with Heliswiss International AG, Küssnacht am Rigi, as operator and Heliswiss, Schweizerische Helikopter AG, Belp, as owner.

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