Attention Mariners! Forest Firefighting Aircraft Maneuvering

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Environment, through the Directorate General of Natural Environment and Forest Management, has launched an educational campaign requesting the cooperation of mariners and users of ports and nautical clubs to ensure safety during the maneuvers of aircraft used in forest firefighting.

Under the slogan "If you see me at sea, stay away," a series of recommendations are presented explaining how to act when observing an aircraft or helicopter that is collecting water from the sea or is about to do so.

With the addition of a new amphibious aircraft to the Inter-Island Forest Firefighting Operation of the Govern, which allows for water loading at sea, there are now three aircraft that can perform this task in the Balearic Islands. In addition to these fixed-wing aircraft, there are also five helicopters that can occasionally collect water at sea, as well as the extraordinary deployment that the Spanish government can undertake in case of a major forest fire.

This fact significantly increases the likelihood that, in the event of a forest fire or during training and practice maneuvers, sea users and mariners may be surprised by the activity of firefighting aircraft. Therefore, with the intention of ensuring everyone's safety, both of the mariners and the firefighting aircraft, a series of tips have been communicated to the main workstations of these machines.

Thus, through an informative poster, sea users are asked to stay away from the areas of activity of the firefighting aircraft. In this regard, Councilor Joan Simonet appeals to the navigators of boats, especially jet skis, llaüts, sailboats, or yachts, "to move away and maintain a safe distance when they see aircraft and helicopters working at sea on forest fire extinguishing tasks, not to cross their path, and above all, to avoid racing with them. Your safety is everyone's safety."

Additionally, Simonet also reminded that aeronautical regulations dictate that the flight of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles is completely prohibited when manned aircraft, such as those used for firefighting, are operating.

For more information about this campaign and measures for the prevention and extinguishment of forest fires, you can visit the website xarxaforestal.org.