Post by Government of Nova Scotia

A fleet of new helicopters is now in service to help fight wildfires and support other important tasks that keep Nova Scotians safe, and the public decided they should be named after Nova Scotian birds of prey. A naming competition for the four helicopters garnered nearly 10,000 suggestions. Four groups of related names went to a public vote, and the winners are: - Spirit of the Osprey - Spirit of the Eagle - Spirit of the Hawk - Spirit of the Falcon. The four Airbus H125s are versatile aircraft that will fight wildfires, help in search and rescue efforts, assist in scientific research, transport people and equipment during emergencies and conduct aerial surveillance to support the work of other departments. The helicopters were purchased through a federal-provincial agreement on wildfire equipment and training; each level of government contributed $12.6 million.