- SkyConnect Leasing signs long-term agreement with Pegasus Aero Group for UH-60L Black Hawks
- First deliveries scheduled from March 2027 for firefighting and emergency missions
- Company acquired twelve former US Army Black Hawks via Helicopter Alliance
- Pegasus deploys over 100 aircraft across Europe for current fire season
- UH-60L delivers more than 4,000 litres of water per drop
SkyConnect Leasing has signed a long-term agreement with Spain’s Pegasus Aero Group for multiple UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters, marking a major milestone for the Dublin-based specialist aircraft lessor. The aircraft will be used for wildfire suppression, civil protection and emergency response missions across Europe and Latin America, with first deliveries scheduled from March 2027. The agreement places an Irish aviation company at the centre of a rapidly expanding global firefighting market.
SkyConnect Leasing, established in 2025 as part of the Skyrise Aviation Group, has focused its strategy on providing mission-critical aircraft for firefighting and emergency operations. The company recently acquired twelve former US Army UH-60 Black Hawks through a strategic agreement with Czech-based Helicopter Alliance, creating one of Europe’s first dedicated Black Hawk leasing platforms aimed at civil firefighting operators. Modernised civilian UH-60s can operate with large Bambi buckets or integrated tanks capable of delivering more than 4,000 litres of water per drop, placing them among the most effective rotary-wing firefighting platforms available.
Pegasus Aero Group, based in Córdoba, Spain, traces its roots back more than six decades and has accumulated over 350,000 flight hours across its operations. The addition of the Black Hawk fleet increases the company’s overall inventory to more than 140 aircraft while strengthening its position in the heavy-lift helicopter segment. During the current fire season, Pegasus has reportedly deployed over 100 aircraft across Europe dedicated exclusively to wildfire response operations. Europe has experienced a dramatic increase in wildfire activity in recent years, with 2026 proving particularly severe and firefighting aircraft utilisation reaching record levels as operators respond to longer and more intense fire seasons.
SkyConnect Leasing CEO Patrick Moulay shared t the agreement validates the company’s specialist leasing model and demonstrates how dedicated aircraft leasing helps operators expand firefighting capability.
Pegasus Aero Group vice president and head of business development Miguel Ángel Tamarit Almagro shared the Black Hawk represents an international benchmark for firefighting and emergency missions.
