Spotlight on European Aircrane - Equipped with a 10,000 liter water tank and a special air hose, Florence's 'flying cranes' were recently employed to fight the fires that devastated Sicily over the past few months.
Thanks to 'European Aircrane', the Tuscan company that rents and sells Erickson S-64 helicopters, four air cranes were recently adopted by Italy's Forestry Service and five are currently being rented by Civil Protection Services.
European Aircrane also works in France and Germany but the company can meet the demands of the entire international market.
It also provides full technological services as well as helicopter maintenance, pilot training and the organization of airport activities at Tassignano di Lucca.
The flying cranes are equipped to carry up to 11 tons and are particularly useful in transporting electrical cables or ski-lift equipment to hard-to-reach mountainous areas.
These helicopters can be used to transport electricians and technological experts to the top of very high buildings.
Last winter, for example, the European Aircrane transported a 20-meter Christmas tree - destined for Saint Peter's Square - from the Calabria woodland area of Sila to Rome.
