McDermott Aviation has commenced deploying a major aerial firefighting fleet across Greece for the country’s 2026 fire season, marking its seventh consecutive year supporting Greek authorities.
A total of 15 helicopters – including 11 Bell 214ST “Super Transporter” aircraft and four Bell 214B “Big Lifter” helitaks – are being mobilised from Australia and the United States, with operations running through to 31 October 2026.
At peak deployment, 14 aircraft will be on contract at any one time, supported by approximately 100 specialist personnel rotating through Greece, alongside additional operational support teams based in Australia and working in partnership with local Greek providers.
Aircraft will be strategically positioned across 11 bases, including key island locations and mainland sites spanning from Araxos in the west to Alexandroupolis in the east, and from Ioannina in the north to Crete and Rhodes in the south, enabling rapid response across high-risk fire zones.
The fleet will undertake aerial firefighting operations, including water bombing and the transport of ground crews, with additional capability to support evacuation, search and rescue, and broader disaster response activities as required.
McDermott Aviation first commenced operations in Greece with two aircraft and a small crew and has progressively scaled its presence to the current fleet and personnel levels, reflecting the growing demand for aerial firefighting capability in the region.
Over the past three fire seasons, McDermott Aviation aircraft have flown between 2,500 and 4,500 hours annually on firefighting operations in Greece. In 2023, the Hellenic Fire Brigade attributed higher aircraft utilisation and faster response times to reducing the total area burned.
Founder and President of McDermott Aviation, John McDermott, said the deployment reflects a long-term commitment to supporting large-scale fire operations internationally.
“Our continued deployment to Greece reflects a long-term commitment to supporting large-scale fire operations internationally,” McDermott said.
“We have invested heavily in both our fleet and our capability, including ownership and ongoing development of the Bell 214 platform, which allows us to deliver a level of reliability and performance that is critical in these environments.”
