Police, fire service helicopters out of action
None of the helicopters belonging to the fire service and the police are currently in operation because they have not been serviced, Kathimerini understands.
Each force has five helicopters but the last time they flew was in April. There is particular concern about the unavailability of the fire service?s helicopters because they are used to coordinate operations to put out forest fires.
Sources said these helicopters are out of action because their engines have been sent to a company in France, Turbomeca, to be serviced. Sources said that Greece will have to pay a 1.5-million-euro bill for the engines to be returned.
The contract the police had for the servicing of its five helicopters expired on April 24. A new tender has yet to be launched. Greece has asked for help from the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) in finding someone to take on the technical support of the aircraft.
