Air Firefighting

Dynamic intervention from the air in the most difficult situations

The Hellenic Air Force actively participates every year to the work of firefighting, contributing to the efforts of the Hellenic Fire Department, providing a specialized fleet of aircraft and the necessary personnel.

Firefighting Airplane PZL M18

Hellenic Air Force personnel during forest patrol

Today, Hellenic Air Force currently allocates a large fleet with different types of Fire fighting Airplanes (CL-415, CL-215, PZL M18B, Grumman G-164). During the fire fighting season, the aircrafts are relocated to various airports around the country, while their crews are always in alert from the first to the last light of the day, ready to engage every incident, according to the requirements of the Fire Department.

Additionally, HAF also executes patrol flights for early spotting of forest fires. This ensures the direct intervention from land and air forces contributing effectively in the protection of our natural wealth.

The Hellenic Air Force also offers ground units (vehicles, permanent and reservist personel) where the need exists. When it is required, these forces are placed under the command of the Fire Department.

During 2009, a total of 1607 patrol and fire fighting missions were executed with a total of 3325,7 hours of flight, while in 2008, a total of 2697 patrol and fire fighting missions were executed with a total of 5.854,6 hours of flight.

Under the most unfavourable conditions, people and machines help to extinguish forest fires