Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is asking county commissioners for authority to spend up to $2.9 million more on its Air Rescue helicopters after inspections turned up excessive corrosion. The Safety and Health Committee voted unanimously Monday to advance the resolution. A full commission vote is expected Jan. 20.
A memo signed by Chief of Public Safety Arnold Palmer said the department needs parts and repairs it did not budget for under its existing purchasing pool. Radio repairs and other component work also used up its $6.66 million allocation faster than staff expected. The memo does not say when the incidents occurred, which aircraft need corrosion work or how long any helicopter was out of service.
Committee Chairman Roberto Gonzalez asked for those details. Assistant Fire Chief Rick Rojas said the department has seen heavy corrosion from humidity and saltwater intrusion on helicopters that are about six years old. He said the $2.9 million should keep the fleet flying through the end of the contract, barring unforeseen problems. The department has already spent about $3 million, Rojas said.
If approved, Fire Rescue’s share of the parts and repairs pool would rise to $9.56 million. The Sheriff’s Office keeps a separate $16 million allocation. The county’s four Leonardo AW139 helicopters fly critically injured patients to trauma centers, perform rescues and drop water on fires.
Funding for the aircraft has been a point of debate. Last year, the mayor backed off a proposal to shift roughly $28 million in Air Rescue costs onto the fire district. The adopted budget for fiscal 2025-26 allocated $27.7 million from the countywide general fund. The new request lists both the fire district and general fund as sources, without a dollar split.
