An official source from Avincis, the company responsible for these heavy aircraft operating in Portugal for firefighting, indicated that the second replacement Canadair aircraft will land today in Castelo Branco.

"This will restore the heavy firefighting aircraft fleet in Portugal," the company emphasized. The first replacement Canadair arrived in Portugal on Tuesday.

According to the company, the aircraft arriving today is a Canadair CL-215 with a turbine engine, identical to the one that arrived on Tuesday.

"Avincis remains committed to the safety and protection of the Portuguese people and local communities, and continues to support authorities in fighting fires throughout the country," it added.

These aircraft will replace the two Canadairs assigned to the Special Rural Firefighting Unit (DECIR) that are out of service, with a third replacement also inoperative to respond in the event of any breakdowns.

Following these breakdowns, Portugal activated the bilateral cooperation mechanism with Morocco, which sent two replacement Canadairs, which became part of DECIR by the end of this week and are operating from Monte Real Air Base.

One of the Canadairs has been out of service since July 31, when it suffered structural damage during a water-loading operation on the Douro River, and another aircraft, according to aviation sources, has engine problems.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the Portuguese Air Force (FAP), which is responsible for contracting aerial resources to combat forest fires, told Lusa that the company responsible for leasing and operating the aircraft must return the out-of-service Canadairs to service and is subject to penalties if it fails to fulfil its contracts.

Portugal has been on fire alert since August 2, and in recent weeks, several fires have broken out in the north and centre of the country, already consuming more than half of the approximately 75,000 hectares of land burned this year.

Read more...