Australian Ambassador to Greece Alison Duncan recently visited the Elefsis Airbase to greet Australian crews supporting Greece’s firefighting efforts.
She was welcomed by Airbase Commander Brigadier General Efthymios Simitzis.
The Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection has contracted Australian companies McDermott Aviation Group and Pays Aviation to contribute aircraft and crews to Greece’s wildfire response.
There is a total of 24 Australian aircraft across 12 bases in Elefsina, Andravida, Volos, Alexandroupoli, Kalamata, Araxos, Ioannina, Tripoli, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Samos, Chania and Herakleion.
Around 200 crew rotate throughout the season to support the operations.
Ambassador Duncan thanked Ross Pay, Managing Director of Pay’s Airservice, and Timothy Vercoe, Manager for Greece of McDermott Aviation for their continued commitment.
She commended the crews and wished them a safe and successful season ahead.
This is the seventh and fifth consecutive year of deployment in Greece for the two companies.
