Slovak firm Heli Company signs 2026 fire season contract with Cyprus

Heli Company's Black Hawks will offer fire protection on the golden island of Cyprus.

Slovakian rotary operator Heli Company is deploying four UH-60 A/L Black Hawk helicopters to Cyprus for firefighting missions. The aircraft will remain on standby throughout the 2026 fire season, ready to respond to wildfires and protect lives, property, natural resources and local heritage.

The contract, signed with the Cypriot Ministry of Defence, follows the deployment of two Black Hawks to island last year. Experience gained operating on Cyprus has enabled Heli Company to build an understanding of local terrain and firefighting procedures, directly enhancing response times and operational effectiveness, according to the operator.

Its UH-60 helicopters are equipped with underslung Bambi Buckets and belly-mounted Helitak systems. This enables the operator to coordinate between different types of equipment with different flight characteristics and water pick-up cycle times for complex firefighting missions. The business completed an intensive training programme at Přerov Airport in the Czech Republic last month.

“We enter the new season better prepared than ever – with intensive training, refined procedures, and upgraded capabilities reflecting our accumulated operational experience,” said the firm. “Each season represents a further step forward in our readiness, precision, and ability to respond to the complex demands of aerial firefighting operations.”

Firefighting missions on the island are said to be complicated a combination of high temperatures, strong winds, complex terrain, and rapidly spreading fires, which place significant demands on aircrews, equipment, and overall mission coordination. “In these conditions, aerial firefighting plays a critical role – where response time, drop accuracy and the ability to effectively support ground crews are decisive factors,” said Heli Company.

Firefighting missions take place start from April to October 2026 with the potential for a 30-day extension.

Operating since 2004, the company specialises in aerial firefighting and other missions together with helicopter pilot and maintenance training.