Turkey Renews Wildfire Support Deal with Columbia Helicopters | Aviation International News

Turkey Renews Columbia Helicopters Wildfire Contract

Chinooks to support Turkey’s firefighting efforts for fifth year

A helicopter works to put out fires amid huge columns of smoke — © Nazim Özdemir

By Amy Wilder • Writer

April 1, 2025

Turkey-based CMC Savunma Sanayi has renewed its aerial firefighting contract with Columbia Helicopters for the 2025 fire season, marking the fifth consecutive year of collaboration. The agreement extends Columbia’s role in supporting the Turkish General Directorate of Forestry’s wildfire response efforts.

Columbia will deploy four Chinook Model 234 multi-mission helicopters, the commercial variant of the CH-47, each equipped with a 2,600-gallon Bambi Bucket for targeted water and fire retardant delivery. Flight crews and maintenance personnel will support missions throughout the fire season, which runs from May to October and peaks in the summer months.

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