Swiss helicopters return from Greece wildfires
Three Super Puma helicopters and the Swiss Humanitarian Aid team have returned from Greece following their deployment on 7 August
After seven days working with Greek authorities, the Swiss Humanitarian Aid rapid response team of the Switzerland Armed Forces has returned home with its three Eurocopter Super Puma helicopters.
The helicopters carried out 226 rotations across around 75 hours of flight time and dropped more than 386 tons of water. The helicopters were mainly deployed on the island of Euboea and in the Peloponnese.
Mixture of military, air force, and engineering teams
A statement from the Switzerland Federal Council confirms that the cost of deployment – a mix of Swiss Air Force specialists, military personnel, and Swiss Armed Forces’ engineering/rescue/NBC training unit – ‘will be covered by existing funds from the FDFA and the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport’.
Numerous countries, including France, the US, and the UK have sent resources to support Greece’s efforts in combating the worst wildfire seasons experienced, and Greece has committed to pledged to modernize the firefighting fleet.
Khai Trung Le
Khai Trung Le is Editor of AirMed&Rescue. He is an experienced science writer, having previously been embedded in Cardiff University College of Physical Sciences, Innovate UK research council, and the UK Institute of Material Sciences. His writing can also be found on Star Trek and Vice.