Keratea: Heroic Nighttime Water Drops by Canadair on Fire

In Keratea, Canadair pilots performed heroic nighttime water drops to contain the spread of the fire. The operation took place on the night of Friday (8/8) under extremely difficult conditions, as it was the first time Canadairs have carried out nighttime drops.

This action gave valuable time to ground forces and volunteers. The pilots, with their flight lights on, tried to limit the five-kilometer front, risking their lives to save forests, properties, and human lives.

The main reason why aerial vehicles stop dropping water as soon as darkness falls is flight safety. Flying at low altitude in smoke, without natural daylight, significantly increases the risk for operators.

Firefighting planes and helicopters fly very low to make water drops effective. In the dark, the pilot cannot accurately assess the terrain, the distance from obstacles, and accurately target the drop point.

After sunset, the risk to the crew and the aircraft is so high that the benefit of the drop does not outweigh the risk.