Fire fighting aircraft from the Forestry Department, the Fire Services, the National Guard, police and the British Bases participated in a two hour exercise near the Koshi army camp on Tuesday designed to test coordination and better prepare for a difficult summer ahead.
Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis was on site to watch the aircraft participate in the Ikaros 1 and Ikaros 2 fire fighting programmes. Participants also tested fire traffic area coordination, standard operating procedures, communication between aircraft and readiness for speedy take offs, among other.
The scenario involved the initial participation of the four airplanes of the Forestry Department (Ikaros 1) followed by Ikaros 2, when a police helicopter takes over coordination as four other helicopters, two from the British Bases join the operation.
The aircraft taking part in the exercise were:
Forestry Department: Three Air Tractor 802F and a Thrush 550P
Fire service: Two Kamov helicopters
Police: One Augusta Westland 139 helicopter
National Guard: One Augusta Westland 139 helicopter
British Bases: Two Griffin helicopters
