Avincis has completed a four-month firefighting mission in Chile, flying three times more hours than in previous seasons. The company used two Airbus Super Puma AS332-L2 helicopters deployed from Spain, which together flew 437 hours and dropped nearly 10 million litres of water across almost 3,300 drops. Most of the activity took place in February and March.

A 20-person team of pilots, engineers and technicians operated from bases in Los Angeles and Angol, 500 kilometres south of Santiago. Each helicopter can carry 3,500 litres of water in a Bambi Bucket and up to 18 firemen.

John Boag, group CEO, says: “Our team has had a phenomenal season in Chile this year. They have worked really hard, often flying the aircraft in shifts for more than eight hours a day. I am extremely proud of their resilience and commitment to saving lives and protecting communities day in and day out for the three months they were stationed in Chile.”

Chile faced more than 5,800 wildfires during the 2024/25 season, burning over 89,000 hectares, 20 per cent more than the previous year. Authorities declared a state of emergency in February and over 70 aircraft supported firefighting efforts.

Avincis has been working in Chile for three years. Its firefighting fleet includes more than 70 helicopters and Canadair amphibious aircraft operating in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Chile. In 2024, the fleet flew more than 8,500 hours. The Super Pumas used in Chile will return to Spain for summer firefighting duties.