A new helicopter for Madeira's Civil Protection will begin operations between October and November, with priority given to fighting forest fires. This new aerial asset, contracted from Helibravo, can reach a fire anywhere on the island in approximately 20 minutes after the first alert.
The current helicopter, slower and less agile, will continue to operate but will be primarily assigned to search and rescue missions. Regional Secretary for Health and Civil Protection, Micaela Fonseca de Freitas, emphasized the importance of this reinforcement, despite a slight delay, to ensure the Civil Protection's response capacity.
The goal is to have this second aerial resource available throughout the critical fire season starting in early summer 2027. The new helicopter, capable of carrying five firefighters and one pilot, can take off in under 10 minutes.