Six specialist fire fighting helicopters from McDermott Aviation on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia are being deployed to Greece to allow for a swift response to large wildfires that typically occur in summer months.
In addition to the helicopters, pilots and water bombers from Kennedy Air in rural New South Wales, have already arrived in Greece for their third fire season.
In 2021, McDermott Aviation joined Greek industrial tycoon, Mytilineos, supplying four Australian water-bombing helicopters and 20 crew to help fight the devastating fires that blazed through the island of Evia.
In total, Greece lost about 309,000 acres of bushland while hundreds of homes and animals were burned. More than 20 European and Middle Eastern countries responded to the environmental crisis deploying planes, helicopters, vehicles and human forces.
A helicopter being loaded onto a transport tanker. Photo: McDermott Aviation Group
A helicopter being loaded onto a transport tanker. Photo: McDermott Aviation Group
Three of the six firefighting helicopters that have been sent to Greece from Australia. Photo: McDermott Aviation Group
Helicopters have arrived in Greece. Photo: McDermott Aviation Group
“Sunshine Coast based specialist fire fighting helicopters have arrived for their third fire season in the Country,” McDermott Aviation Group posted on their Facebook group.
“Our pilots and engineers will be arriving throughout this week. Our Greece base manager Tim watched the unloading and sent these pics through.”
This year, more than 200 firefighters and technical equipment are expected to arrive in Greece through European Union arrangements, according to AP News.
Among the countries that will take part in the initiative are Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Romania and Norway.
The prevention and response initiative will be managed by the EU bloc’s Civil Protection Mechanism.
