The president of the National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC) said there will be 50 machines, a mixture of aircraft and helicopters, available this summer to fight fires in Portugal.The unequivocal guarantee was given by Mourato Nunes to the Committee on Constitutional Affairs.
Asked about the Kamov fleet of six helicopters, (one of which is pictured), purchased by the State to be the nation's core firefighting capability, Nunes admitted that not one of these helicopters is available for active duty.
"The airline company (Everjets) has failed to get the three Kamovs airborne, there is no Kamov available at the moment," said Nunes, who did not add that the chances of any of these expensive Russian-built helicopters ever flying again in increasingly slim as the maintenance hangars are closed and the Russian engineers are back in their motherland.
Mourato Nunes said the ANPC had “given its intention to denounce the contract with Everjet," - a claim Everjets disputes, saying it ended the deal and has issued a claim for €40 million for breach of contract. (HERE)
Because of this decision, says Nunes, "we have about €8 to €9 million in hand, to be able to acquire heavy air assets."
