Jordan sends two helicopters to Cyprus to reinforce its aerial firefighting capabilities
The Republic of Cyprus has partnered with the Royal Jordanian Air Force to help combat potential forest fires until Cyprus’ own leased firefighting aircraft arrive
The Cypriot Environment Minister, Maria Panayiotou, thanked the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Royal Jordanian Air Force, stating that the rapid response for aid was a showcase of “the depth of our bilateral cooperation and the shared commitment to addressing challenges that transcend borders”.
She went on to say: “The Jordanian Mission will stand shoulder to shoulder with us in aerial firefighting, contributing to the preservation of our precious forests.
“The government of Cyprus is leveraging all available resources to minimize the impact of wildfires and ensure the utmost protection for our forests, biodiversity and the wellbeing of our local communities. While the complete eradication of wildfires is, of course, an ideal scenario, our aim is to achieve the most immediate and timely response possible to the challenges we face.”
As well as the two aircraft, there are 18 personnel from the Royal Jordanian Air Force, including pilots, aircrew and technicians.
Last year, the Cypriot government put out a tender to purchase more aircraft for its firefighting force.
Jon Adams
Jon is the Editor of AirMed&Rescue. He was previously Editor for Clinical Medicine and Future Healthcare Journal at the Royal College of Physicians before coming to AirMed&Rescue in November 2022. His favorite helicopter is the Army Air Corps Lynx that he saw his father fly while growing up on Army bases.