Four firefighting helicopters arrive in Paphos for the summer season

Four firefighting helicopters have arrived at Paphos airport to prepare for the upcoming summer fire season in the Republic of Cyprus. The fleet includes two Black Hawk helicopters, which are equipped with large-capacity water tanks, and two Sikorsky helicopters that utilize water buckets. The aircraft arrived in two separate stages over the course of several days. Currently, the flight crews are undergoing intensive training and orientation regarding local procedures and operational requirements. This year's arrival is significantly earlier than the previous year, when similar assets arrived in June due to delays in the tender process. The early deployment is intended to improve operational planning and readiness for potential wildfire response. The crews are expected to be in a state of full operational readiness shortly.