The new life in Galicia of a Black Hawk helicopter that flew with the US Army

Forest fires are a major problem every summer in Galicia. This Spanish region requires aerial resources to fight them.

The Spanish firefighting aircraft of the 43rd Group seen in detail inside and out
Marines paint their helicopters with pink markings to put out fires in Los Angeles

Yesterday, AirWorks Helicopters SL, based in Salamanca, announced the addition of a new helicopter to its fleet: "The big news we've been preparing for over a year is finally here. With a capacity of 4,300 liters of water, this helicopter will contribute to firefighting efforts, expanding our range of heavy resources." The most striking thing is what appears in the photo: a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, a famous military helicopter also used in the United States for firefighting. In the photo we can already see this aircraft painted with the corporate colors of AirWorks Helicopters SL, a company that has been operating a fleet of Airbus H125 and Bell 412 EP helicopters for firefighting.

According to Sandglasspatrol.com, this helicopter will be used to fight forest fires in Galicia. The helicopter pictured has a US civilian registration, N60AW. According to the website of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), it is a UH-60L with serial number 89-26169 and owned by Timberline Helicopters Inc, a company in Sandpoint, Idaho. On Friday, July 17, Tyson Davis, president of that company, posted an announcement on LinkedIn noting that this aircraft is the first restricted category UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter, with N registration, to operate in Europe.

Restricted categories are issued by the FAA for former military helicopters, as a special permit to perform specific tasks, in this case, firefighting. This means that the helicopter does not have a standard FAA airworthiness certificate for commercial civil use, and therefore cannot perform civil passenger flights for leisure travel.

According to the website Rotorspot.nl, the N60AW was originally a UH-60A, construction number 701411, later upgraded to the UH-60L version. Its serial number 89-26169 indicates its fiscal year, 1989. According to the website h-60.com, 89-26169 was delivered to the US Army in August 1989. On January 23, 2025, this aircraft entered the U.S. Army's Black Hawk Helicopter Trade-In and Sale (BEST) Program, which aims to give a second life to old military aircraft in the civilian market.

On September 14, 2023, Agustin Anaya took a photo of this helicopter, which can be seen on Jetphotos.com. It still bears the olive green livery and the US Army markings. Judging by the square shape of its door, this helicopter was most likely used for medical evacuations. Two photos of this helicopter can be seen on the Airport-Data.com website (here and here), taken by J.G. Handelman at Easton Airport, Maryland, in 2008, in which you can see this aircraft with the paint on its fuselage very deteriorated.

In his message this Friday, Tyson Davis notes: "The aircraft has been delivered to Airworks S.L. of Spain, where it will be deployed in support of critical wildfire suppression and emergency response operations. This achievement represents far more than the delivery of a world-class aircraft. It marks the culmination of an extraordinary 18-month journey characterized by collaboration, perseverance, regulatory engagement, and the development of a lasting friendship between the teams at THI and Airworks. From the earliest discussions through aircraft preparation, regulatory coordination, operational planning, and final delivery, both organizations worked side by side to navigate a complex and groundbreaking path that has now resulted in a truly historic accomplishment."

The president of Timberline Helicopters Inc. added: "Throughout the process, representatives from THI and Airworks participated in numerous meetings, technical reviews, operational discussions, and regulatory engagements necessary to establish a framework for the aircraft's successful introduction into Europe. The project required patience, innovation, and a shared commitment to achieving a common objective: enhancing Europe's capability to combat increasingly severe wildfire threats."

Davis ha señalado que este podría ser sólo el primero de otros helicópteros Black Hawk que lleguen posteriormente a Europa con el mismo fin: "Como parte de la creciente relación entre ambas compañías, Airworks S.L. actuará como presencia operativa avanzada de THI en Europa para las necesidades de las aeronaves UH-60 Black Hawk. Esta alianza estratégica mejorará el apoyo, la capacidad de respuesta y la accesibilidad para los operadores actuales y futuros de UH-60 en toda Europa. Al aprovechar la experiencia local y la presencia operativa de Airworks, THI podrá brindar una asistencia aún mayor a los clientes que buscan capacidades probadas del Black Hawk en operaciones de extinción de incendios, respuesta a emergencias, servicios públicos y misiones especiales".

Davis indicated that this could be just the first of several Black Hawk helicopters to arrive in Europe for the same purpose: "As part of the expanding relationship between the two companies, Airworks S.L. will serve as THI’s forward operating support presence in Europe for UH-60 Black Hawk aircraft requirements. This strategic partnership will enhance support, responsiveness, and accessibility for current and future UH-60 operators throughout Europe. By leveraging Airworks’ local expertise and operational presence, THI will be able to provide even greater assistance to customers seeking proven Black Hawk capabilities across firefighting, emergency response, utility, and special mission operations. The establishment of this European forward support presence reflects THI’s long-term commitment to the region and confidence in Airworks as a trusted partner."

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Photos: AirWorks Helicopters SL / Timberline Helicopters Inc.