With eight aircraft and more than 800 forest firefighters, the Forestry Department will this year join the battle against fires, expecting to face a difficult and unpredictable situation due to climate change.
The tender for the lease of two plus two firefighting aircraft has already been launched with a budget of €19.3 million and a renewal perspective until 2027. The two aircraft will be able to carry up to 3,000 liters of water and 60 liters of foam, while the other two will be slightly smaller as they will have to carry up to 2,500 liters of water and 60 liters of foam. The offers expire on 15 April.
As the deputy director of the Forestry Department, Savvas Iezekiel, told Phileleftheros, at the moment the two aircraft of the department are idle since one is undergoing maintenance in Israel and will be ready in early April, while the engine of the second one has been sent for repair and will be ready in mid-June.
There are, however, two leased helicopters and two helicopters from the National Guard and the Police. Efforts are also being made so that two helicopters from Jordan will be stationed in Cyprus during the summer period. There are also British Base helicopters that can be used in emergencies.
According to Mr. Iezekiel, on the one hand, the great climate change and on the other hand, the wars, have affected not only our region but also the northern countries, so they need firefighting aircraft, which is why it is difficult to find them.
Until we permanently acquire our flying equipment, there will be a need for leasing, he said. Our plan, he continued, is to purchase one plane with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Plan and at the same time purchase two more from national funds. By acquiring our assets, we will also solve the problems that occur every year with finding aircraft for hire.firefighting aircraft. forest firefighting, aircraft lease, climate change
