Speaking to pilots of the 355 Squadron who fly the CL-215s, Mr. Mitsotakis stated that as soon as possible we will replace the CL-215s with the new CL-515s.
In the morning, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Elefsina Air Base, the 383rd Special Operations and Aerial Firefighting Squadron and the 355th Tactical Transport Squadron, which participate in aerial firefighting operations.
The prime minister was informed about the particularly difficult task of extinguishing the fires that broke out this week, while he had the opportunity to talk with the crews who daily fight the fires and the engineers who maintain the CL-215 and CL-415 fire engines, ensuring their operational readiness.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, accompanied by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vasilis Kikiliawatched the take-off of a “wave” of two Greek, two French and one Croatian CL-415, and thanked the operators and engineers, noting that they have the full support of the state in their work.
“You are doing a very great job and we are very much obliged to you, both to you and to the technicians. What we can do is make sure to upgrade your planes and of course get new Canadairs as soon as possible, to replace mainly the older ones, the CL-215s. Investment in civil defense infrastructure, especially in our aircraft, is absolutely necessary. Know that you will have all our support, the Minister will run the programs “bully”, noted the Prime Minister while talking to the pilots of the 383 Squadron which has its headquarters in Thessaloniki but is deployed at Elefsina Military Airport during the fire fighting period.
“You know, the cameras show the people flying the planes, but they rarely show you keeping them in the air. So you work 24 hours a day. You make it possible for us to be able to prove something in very difficult circumstances. So a very big thank you to all the technical staff”, emphasized Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a conversation he had with the technical staff of Moira.
The prime minister was then briefed by 355 Squadron pilots flying CL-215s on the firefighting operation at Western Attica: “I really think this fire was a tough fire, but the aerials certainly did a very important job. We also took care as much as we can to reinforce you with air from abroad, I think everything we could find we mobilized and brought it here. This is also a very practical, nice demonstration of European solidarity.
And because I know that you also fly an airplane that is old and difficult and breaks down, especially for the operators of the CL-215 I have a very deep respect. Our job is to support you practically in the work that you do and as soon as possible to replace the CL-215 with the new CL-515.
It is in our planning to be among the first to acquire them when the production line hopefully resumes, so that you too can fly the most modern airplane that will be available”, pointed out Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The prime minister, who also had a conversation with the liaison officer of the French mission, also visited the hangar where the Canadairs are maintained day and night and spoke with the engineers of the Air Force and the ODA who were working on the aircraft at that time.
Source: Skai
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