澳大利亚私营航空消防公司正在欧洲夏季火灾季节的前线参与灭火工作。来自新南威尔士州和南澳大利亚州的多家公司已在希腊和法国部署飞机和人员，其中Pay's Air Service在希腊基地部署了14架AT-802飞机[1]，这是该公司第五次在希腊执行任务[1]。澳大利亚目前约有130名认证航空消防运营商或个人飞行员，以及186名直升机运营商[1]。
欧洲今年面临历史性的火灾威胁。该地区正以每十年0.56摄氏度的速度变暖，超过全球平均升温水平[1]，去年欧洲95%的地区经历了高于平均气温的情况[1]。上周希腊野火已导致两名飞行员死亡，数十万人被迫疏散[1]。近日雅典西部还发生了两架直升机相撞事故，造成一名希腊人和一名丹麦人遇难，涉事直升机来自澳大利亚公司McDermott Aviation[1]。
澳大利亚航空消防飞行员需要在高风险环境中快速出动，飞行时间可达10小时[1]。尽管2000年至2023年间澳大利亚航空消防领域共发生32起事故、造成6人死亡[1]，这些专业力量仍被当地社区广泛欢迎。
Australian aviation firefighting companies have deployed aircraft and personnel to Greece and France to support local wildfire suppression efforts during Europe's summer fire season.[1] Pay's Air Service, based in NSW's Hunter region, has stationed 14 AT-802 aircraft at a Greek base under the leadership of pilot Alex Pay, marking the company's fifth deployment to Greece and Pay's second consecutive season in the operation.[1] Aerotech Group from Adelaide is also contributing to these international firefighting missions.[1]
The deployment comes as Europe faces unprecedented fire conditions, with the continent warming at a rate of 0.56 degrees Celsius per decade—exceeding the global average—and experiencing temperatures above historical norms across 95 percent of its territory in recent years.[1] Pilots are operating under demanding conditions, with some flights lasting up to 10 hours, though safety risks persist in the volatile environment.[1] Recent incidents underscore these dangers: a collision west of Athens involving two helicopters from Australian company McDermott Aviation resulted in two pilot fatalities, and earlier Greek wildfires claimed two additional pilot deaths while forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate.[1]
Australia maintains approximately 130 certified aviation firefighting operators or individual pilots and 186 helicopter operators qualified for such operations, according to 2021 data.[1] Between 2000 and 2023, Australian aviation firefighting activities recorded 32 accidents resulting in 6 deaths.[1] Despite the inherent risks, the Australian crews have been widely welcomed by local communities responding to the crisis.[1]