Dauntless Air Installs First AT-802F FRDS GEN III Firegate in U.S. FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Trotter Controls, in collaboration with Air Tractor, Inc. is excited to announce U.S. availability of the third generation Fire Response Dispersal System (FRDS). FRDS GEN III is the state-of-the-art, all-electric, lightweight evolution of our firegate technology having a 30+ year track record of success. Dauntless Air, the largest and oldest operator of the Fire Boss AT-802F in the United States, has received the first U.S. installation of the FRDS GEN III firegate on airframe N8522Q in support of the STC process. Dauntless, in its efforts to support innovation in the marketplace, has been helpful in moving the new state-of-the-art technology forward in the US market by providing an aircraft for the prototype installation. Minnesota based FireBoss and New Mexico based Aero Tech are also slated to receive FRDS GEN III firegates in Q1 2020 for the upcoming US fire season. The FRDS GEN III firegate will be the only constant-flow firegate for AT-802F aircraft having an FAA STC and continues the evolution of the FRDS as the factory OEM firegate for new Air Tractor AT-802F aircraft. The firegate STC will become part of the AT-802F Type Certificate later this year and is available for factory installation on new aircraft beginning in April/May of 2020. Fred Fahey Aerial Services, Kennedy Aviation, and Field Air have been operating the much lighter all-electric firegate in Australia throughout the last two seasons with excellent results. Thanks to Australian-based Air Tractor dealer Field Air and our forward-looking Australian customers, the system has over 500 flight hours of in-service use in Australia. Those aircraft have been used heavily in the effort to stop Australia’s devastating wildfires this season. Operators and agencies have reported that the precise constant-flow operation, very high flow rate capability, and the lighter weight of the system provide significant advantages over competing solutions. The extensive update to the FRDS system includes more than 260lbs of weight reduction, all-electric operation (no messy AF 46 | aerialfiremag.com
hydraulics), 25% more flow than the previous factory firegate, integrated AFF tracking/ATU telemetry system, integrated foam injection control, and much simpler operation than previous systems. The technical staff at Trotter Controls, Inc. worked as a team to develop the state-of-the-art gatebox using 3D CAD modeling and many iterations of stress analysis to refine the lightweight design. The new gatebox design achieves a significant weight reduction by using aerospace grade materials, aerospace construction techniques, and reducing the parts count by more than 30% compared to the previous design. The controls and software team at Trotter Controls utilized their extensive expertise in meeting IAB tank performance specifications for VLAT and SEAT aircraft as well the fieldproven DataVault controller platform to develop a very simple and capable controls platform for the all-electric motor/ gearbox used to position the fire doors during delivery operations. The all-electric system allows for streamlined troubleshooting and reduced maintenance as compared to previous hydraulicsbased systems. A new modular pilot interface fits in the same envelope as the previous GEN II FRDS and provides the flexibility to mount switches wherever the operator prefers, with the main Pilot Interface display mounted in a standard 3” gauge cutout. The primary interface utilizes an advanced color OLED screen covered by anti-reflective glass and a back-lit silicone button overlay, greatly improving visibility in all lighting conditions. The light-weight controller, based on Trotter Controls’ DataVault product line, provides control for the firegate and includes built-in AFF Tracking and ATU telemetry capability that meets or exceeds fire agency requirements for real-time tracking and telemetry (NAFC & USFS specification compliant). For further information or to learn more about how the FRDS GEN III system can help maximize the efficiency of your aerial operations, contact Victor Trotter or Marc Gerth at Trotter Controls Inc, 817-535-2243 or info@trottercontrols.com.
