In the 1990s, due to political changes in the country and the reduction of chemicalisation, services for agriculture ceased to be performed. The global trend linked to growing environmental awareness led to a reduction in the scope of agricultural aviation operations.
The liquidation of State Agricultural Farms (PGR), the abandonment of forest fertilisation drastically reduced the domestic market. New “players” appeared on the world market. Competition came primarily from Balkan companies, and local African firms also emerged. These companies offered lower prices that were below the profitability threshold for Polish enterprises. Local firms often utilised aircraft ceded by the Poles.
The last contracts for agricultural services expired at the end of the first decade of the 21st century. Only Świdnik-based Heliseco – the successor to ZEUŚ – still carries out firefighting operations on the Iberian Peninsula (using Sokół helicopters). Polish service enterprises significantly reduced the number of aircraft and personnel. Aircraft production was terminated. Thus the “golden era” in the history of Polish agricultural aviation came to a close.
The political and economic transformations in Poland after 1989 caused the complete cessation of using aeroplanes for agricultural work. […] Approximately 200 aeroplanes and their crews lost work in the country year by year. — Lesław Karst*
