What Air Attack does

For the last few months I have been writing different types of air tankers and helicopters in the arsenal of air attack fire fighting resources (aka air attack) used by State and Federal agencies here in America. I have talked about retardants and class A foams used by these air tankers and helicopters to retard or suppress flames. But what is it exactly that air tankers and helicopters do? Yes, they drop retardants and suppressants (water/foam mix). But they do more, aerial fire fighting resources and the people who fly them as well as those who provide support operations do what they do to support the crews on the ground who work to contain, control, and mop-up wildland fires. Or to put it another way, air attack (air tankers and helicopters) supplements ground crews and slows the fire until the ground crews can get to it. In what is known as extended attack on a fire, you will have both ground crews and air attack working a fire.

Tl Stein offers these observations:

In an ideal situation, both entities (air attack and ground crews) work as a team to bring a fire under control. 97% of the fires that aircraft are used on, ARE put out by the crews on the ground.  We just give assistance, that's all.  That is our purpose, that is our focus and that is our goal.  Initial attack is the key to keeping potentially huge fires small, therefore, the quicker we can get retardant in front of the fire, the quicker and more efficient the crews on the ground can do their job.

The other 3% fall into those fires that are most likely lightening caused, 20 miles from the nearest road, inaccessible terrain and no chance of dropping a helitack crew....much less smoke jumpers.  The theory being, surround the active fire with retardant and/or drop massive amounts of water via helitanker, then sit and watch it for a day or two.  One or two more drops of water to kill any rekindle after that.

I am going to write a series of articles in two broad parts. Part 1, if you will, focuses on two aspects of what I call the intersection of aviation resources and ground crews: helitack aka helicopter attack and the smoke jumper program. One aspect of helitack is using helicopters to deliver specially trained fire fighters, often working with other ground crews, to work a wildfire. As their name implies, smoke jumpers parachute in with equipment to help contain a fire.

In part 2, I will write a little about what ground crews do, relying heavily on various resources from the internet.

So stay tuned. In my next article, I will write an introduction to helitack.

header image and other photos

I'd like to thank J. Laval for granting me permission to use his photo in my blog header. The CAL FIRE Pilot's Association has a gallery page with links to a photo gallery, video gallery, as well as specifications for the S2-T air tanker and the OV-10 Bronco air attack/lead (observation) plane.

The image that I am using in my blog header may also be found in the photo gallery page referenced above.

There are some awesome pictures and videos in this gallery, take a few moments to check them out.

Changes to blog layout and other things

Yes, I have made some changes to the appearance of my blog, including changing the title, blog description, my profile, and revisions to the links section to reflect the focus on aerial wildland firefighting.

Last night I spent time teaching myself how to place photos at the top of my blog and in the process of doing so, you may have seen a photo. All photos, including one that was accidently up for a few hours, have been taken down. I am working on getting a photo that I will then put at the top of page (with appropriate attribution). So, while I am working out the details, there will not a photo at the top of my blog.

Thank-you for your patience.

Spartan C-27J

The Spartan C-27 (shown above flying in a 2007 airshow) was on display at the recent Paris Air Show (June 2009), see this video to see what this aircraft can do, with narration (that includes some technical details) in both English and French.

For more information on this aircraft you might want to read this short article.

This aircraft has generated some interest for its great possibilities in aerial firefighting. However, any uses in aerial firefighting probably won't happen anytime soon. As I understand it, the aircraft is currently being produced for military use only.

The military use of these planes may preclude their use for aerial fire fighting. Moreover, the current MAFFS units are designed only for the C-130 so modifications to either the MAFFS unit and/or the airframe would be required for the C-27.

Even if the C-27 was available for non-military use, the price tag of a new plane is too costly for aerial fire fighting budgets. Obviously, I am not in the position to know specifics, but using a 2007 Dept. of Defense contract as a guide, the cost comes in at about $25 million each. I used figures referenced of $2 billion over 5 years for 78 planes referenced here.

Nonetheless, the C-27 puts in an awesome performance in the video from the 2009 Paris Air Show, it is worth looking at.

Erickson AirCrane: retardant and water/faom drops

Fixed-tank helicopters such as the AirCrane use Phos-Check 259F retardant, requiring that a mobile retardant base be set up near the incident. This happens on a regular basis with large fires. The video that I have embedded here shows an AirCrane using a dip tank to fill its fixed tank with retardant.

Being that the AirCrane can be used for retardant drops as well as water/foam drops, I asked Kenny Chapman when AirCrane is used for retardant drops in the U.S.:


Once the Crane is hauling retardant it is utilized the same as an airtanker. (Building retardant line ahead of the fire.) It can also switch back and forth between retardant, water and foam as needed. Retardant is not used in the initial attack role unless the helicopter is sent to a new fire directly from an existing incident that has a retardant plant set up already.

I asked him if there was ever a situation where a mobile retardant base was established where an AirCrane was working an existing fire and a “new” fire popped up near the mobile retardant plant. With a mobile retardant plant already set up near a “new” fire, was the AirCrane used to haul retardant in “initial attack.” He said:

I remember one that I did on a fire out of Santa Ynez around 2003 or so. Someone was smoking in fire camp and started a fire at the camp at exactly the time I was picking up a load. I was able to contain the new start with one load.

AirCranes carrying water/foam are frequently used in initial attack. The AirCrane has a separate foam tank, so after the pilot has filled the main tank with water he can decide whether or not to inject foam into the tank (already filled with water) based on the wants/needs/requirements of the incident commander.

Because the tank on the AirCrane does not have to be rinsed or otherwise cleaned out between retardant and water/foam drops, the AirCrane can go from flying initial attack with water/foam to flying extended attack with retardant once a mobile retardant base is set up near the incident.

How to fly a helicopter

I have what I believe will be one more post to make in my series of posts about the Erickson AirCrane. Today got a little complicated and I am trying to do some fact checking before making that last post. So, stay tuned, it will come, I promise. In the meantime. . .

As a part of my background reading and research on helicopters, I was checking around on the internet for materials on how to fly helicopters. Now, I also happen to now someone who is a helicopter pilot, George. George does not fly firefighting helicopters, and he is a wonderful teacher and mentor. He knows his stuff.

Anyway, George has been helping me learn about helicopter flight performance. In the course of my e-mails with George, I sent him some of the materials that I found on the internet about flying helicopters. I asked him which one was the best of the group of four or five that I sent him. He said that the best is the youtube video that I have embedded below.

Thank-you George!

Erickson AirCrane: firefighting module

If you go to Erickson’s firefighting page, you will notice a “quick specs” link at the top where you will find this information on the AirCrane’s firefighting module:

Our patented ram scoop hydrofoil allows the Helitanker to refill from fresh water and sea water sources in less than 45 seconds.

A flexible hose snorkel features a high pressure impeller and can draw water from any water source 18 inches (45 cm) or deeper as fast as 45 seconds.

The 2,650 gallon (~10,000 litre) tank drops water, retardant, or foam mix. Microprocessor controlled tank doors offer eight individual coverage level options.

accessed on June 17, 2009

The coverage levels referred to above may be selected by the AirCrane pilot. They are:

1 = 1 gallon per 100 square feet
2 = 2 gallons per 100 square feet
3 = 3 gallons per 100 square feet
4 = 4 gallons per 100 square feet
5 = 5 gallons per 100 square feet
6 = 6 gallons per 100 square feet
7 = 7 gallons per 100 square feet
8 = 8 gallons per 100 square feet

Erickson AirCrane: A versitile helicopter

Before writing a little more about the AirCrane's fire fighting abilities in my next post, I thought that this video clip will serve as a nice follow-up to Kenny Chapman's interview. You will some nice footage about some of the other things the AirCrane can do such as construction, rescue, a spray nozzle, etc.


This same video, embedded from YouTube, may also be accessed from Erickson's firefighting webpage through the video link (1st video on the left).

Erickson AirCrane: Kenny Chapman interview with Aero News

This is an interview by Aero News network with Kenny Chapman, Sr. firefighting pilot with Erickson AirCrane. He has been with Erickson since 1979. The best way to learn about the firefighting abilities of the AirCrane is to listen to what Kenny has to say in this 9 minute video. And while you are at it go to the youtube page and read all the commentary (click more info) in the grey box at the top right hand side of the screen.

I need to add that I have been in touch with Kenny Chapman over e-mail. I have learned a lot from Kenny about the AirCrane. Thank-you Kenny!

Stay tuned for more on the AirCrane in my next post.

Erickson Aircrane: intro, history and specs

When I started writing about aerial resources used to fight wildland fires six months ago, it did take me long before I saw pictures and videos of the Erickson Aircrane. The Erickson Aircrane is a type 1 helicopter (gross weight of more than 12,500 pounds, capable of carrying 11 to 16 passengers). The gross weight of the Erickson Air-Crane model S64-E is 42,000 pounds.

To provide a frame of reference, the Super Hueys that I wrote about recently are type 2 helicopters (gross weight up to 12,500 pounds, and/or carrying 8 to 10 passengers). The gross weight of H-301, one of CAL FIRE's super huey's is 10,500 pounds.

The Aircrane, when fitted with a fixed tank, is a helitanker. The Interagency Airtanker Board (IAB) establishes procedures and criteria for air tankers, helitankers, and tanks. According to section V (helitanker requirements)

helitankers shall be a Type 1 helicopter capable of lifting 1000 gallons of water at sea level (STP). Buckets will not be considered.

Erickson Aircrane has a very good web page chock full of information. The you tube video that I embedded above may also be found by clicking on the video link on their firefighting webpage (2nd video from the left).

This is the first of four or five posts that I will make about the Aircrane. Today I focus on history and specifications. In my next post, you will hear an Aero News TV interview with Kenny Chapman of Erickson. Among other things, Kenny describes the development of the Aircrane's fixed tank system and the Aircrane's firefighting capabilities.

Erickson has a web page where they write about the history of the Aircrane, here.

Specifications are shown in the image below for the two Aircrane models (accessed on June 8, 2009 from http://www.ericksonaircrane.com/index.php, design weights and performance page)

underneath H-301

Thanks to TL Stein and a friend from Ryan AAB, I have the following description of what is underneath H-301:

We start at the top of the image. On either side, you can see the floor windows and the observation mirrors that look back at the tank and snorkel, and the PA - Siren speakers.  On the far left, just below the step, is the filler coupling where the tank is refilled on the ground using either a fire truck or a hydrant should there be no water sources to snorkle from.  On the outsides of the tank, just inside the skid supports, are the hydraulic actuators that open and close the tank doors.  Inside the triangle looking fixtures, are where the pivot arms attach to both the actuators and tank door gear box. You'll notice that one tank door is open, this is to keep the inside of the tank dry when not in use.  In the center of the tank, you can see the fittings and snorkel hose as it's folded back under the helicopter. The two smaller black hoses are the hydraulic lines that power the pump on the end of the snorkel. The hydraulic power is provided by a small unit that is mounted inside the crew area, behind the pilot and co-pilot.  The item hanging down (painted red) that looks like it has a golf ball on the end of it, is part of the WSPS (Wire Strike Protection System).  There is a WSPS installed on the top as well.  It's purpose is to cut any power line or cable that the aircraft may accidentally fly into.  Also, you can see a small cable that exits the aircraft and angles down to the tank (starts at the top of the "3".  This is the manual emergency release for the tank, in the event of a hydraulic failure.  All the pilot needs to do in this event, is pull a T-handle on the floor of the cockpit and it open both doors, dropping all the contents of the tank.  Usually, in the event of a failure, the doors can only be closed on the ground so in typical operation, the tank would be removed and a bucket will be used.

For more information about the WSPS go here. This page includes information about the WSPS along with other flight performace issues of helicopters. You will need to do some scrolling to get to the section on the WSPS.

Thanks to my friend at Ryan, I have some clarification on if H-301 can be used for bucket operations. The answer is that if the fixed tank is not operational for some reason, the fixed tank can be removed and a 324 gallon bambi bucket can then be used.

Correction: H-301 tank size

I have a minor correction. The fixed tank on H-301 is 360 gallons, not 325 gallons. I believe that the buckets on CALFIRE helicopters have a capacity of around 325 gallons. I have updateded yesterdays post to reflect the correct fixed tank size on H-301.

Thanks to my friend at Ryan for pointing this out.

CAL FIRE's helitack

I'd like to thank TL Stein for a photo of one of CAL FIRE's helitack helicopters, H-301, based at Hemet-Ryan Helitack Base. CAL FIRE has a fleet of nine helicopters positioned around the state, in addition, I think that they also have a couple that are maintained as emergency aircraft.

I believe that two CAL FIRE helicopters have belly tanks. One of the copters with a belly tank is H-301 and the other is based at Bear Valley. My friend at Ryan tells me that H-301 has a 360 gallon fixed tank on its belly. I don't know if the copter at Bear Valley has a 360 gallon tank. I am pretty certain that both H-301 and the copter at Bear Valley have foam tanks for class A foam.

Go here for a pictorial overview of Ryan's helitack operations, take time to check out the links! I will be writing in some more detail about helitack operations in a couple of weeks.

Note: I revised and corrected this post. I had misidentified H-301 as a helitanker. It is not a helitanker. Helitankers are heavy, large helicopters such as the Erickson Aircrane that I will be writing about next week.

San Diego County CA Copter 12

A while back, I found the above video on youtube, shot from the cockpit of San Diego County's Copter 12. It is an awesome video, with some great fire shots. hwyted posted the video and he has several others posted on youtube. If you are interested in shots from firefighting helicopters, check out his other videos. For some more information on copter 12, a Bell Huey 205 A1++, go this webpage where there is brief description of all aircraft used by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

These aircraft are ASTREA (Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies) aircraft. ASTREA has a nice photo gallery with photos of copter 12 and other helicopters. Copter 12 can be identified by the "12" on its front end.

Another photo gallery of ASTREA helicopters may be found here, on the webpage of the Aerial Law Enforcement Association.

Copter 12 and it's sister, copter 10 have 375 gallon fixed tanks on their bellies and are also known as helitankers. Helitankers fill up their belly tanks by hovering over a body water, using a long tube, called a snorkle that takes water into the tank. If you watch the video above, you will see some footage of another helitanker refilling its tanks. Look at the pictures on the photo galleries and you will see some pictures of copter 12 flying with its snorkle tube hanging from its belly.

If you are so inclined, you may find aircraft certification for copter 12 (N107BZ) here.

helicopters with buckets

I have a great deal of respect for the work that helicopters with bambi buckets do in working wildland fires, initial and extended attack. Many state fire agencies, including my own state, have helos with buckets that are used in wildland fire fighting. For all of you firefighting helicopter pilots, thank-you for all you do.



I like the video (embedded above) because you can see the operations of a helicopter with a bucket, as could be used for firefighting operations, up close and personal, so to speak. I believe that this is a military helicopter, and that the video is showing bucket training operations.

I found this youtube video a few days ago, shot during the 2008 Humboldt fire near Chico CA. There is some awesome footage of a helicopter and bucket working the fire as well as a shot of tanker 910 (DC-10).

Here is a link to some of my earlier posts on helicopters.