The long-promised second aerial firefighting resource for Madeira has yet to enter service. The Regional Government confirmed that the agreement with the State has been finalised, with the State fully funding the aircraft and its crew.
However, Regional Government President Miguel Albuquerque declined to provide an arrival date, explaining that the process now depends on the completion of a public procurement procedure managed by the Ministry of Defence through the Portuguese Air Force.
Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) deputy Rafael Nunes criticised the continued delay, noting the helicopter was originally expected in July 2025, then revised to July 2026, with no confirmed delivery date announced.
