AERIALFIRE THE
AERIAL
FIREFIGHTING
MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
KESTREL AVIATION INNOVATING TO KEEP AUSTRALIANS SAFE USS Bonhomme Richard - Aerial Firefighting Response
Camp Fire Tragedy Leads to New Wildfire Research
Sweden’s Wildfire Defense Expands with Scooper Water Bombers
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All aircrafts involved are viewed on the Moving Map Display in real time with great accuracy. The FireNav lets you record all the data and navigation information for post-analysis. The data can be used for training personnel; therefore preventing mistakes that have or could happen while in a mission.
With accurate GPS data, FireNav is an active tracking and guidance system for each aircraft involved in firefighting. Each pilot is able to constantly monitor the positions of all other aircraft involved in the operation (ATC). The user-friendly FireNav software allows the bird dog to mark a target line, which is able to be seen on all other aircraft within the modem range. The software and hardware combination allows for other safety features, some examples being aircraft proximity within a predetermined distance, warning for aircraft proximity, and view of other aircraft in real-time.
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In This Issue of AERIALFIRE... Volume 18 Number 5 | Septermber / October 2020 12 Kestrel Aviation Innovating To Keep Australians Safe 20 COVID-19 Leads to Downturn in Helicopter Accidents for First Half of 2020
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22 SEI Industries Introduces Multi-Fuel Bulk Aviation Transport Tank for Jet, Diesel and Gasoline Fuel
MANAGING EDITOR: Graham Lavender - graham@aerialfiremag.com
24 HAI Announces the Passing of James Wisecup
EDITOR: Ryan Mason - ryan@aerialfiremag.com
26 ASU Selected to Provide Fixed-Wing NVG Training for FAA Flight Standards Operation Inspectors and Aircraft Certification Pilots
ACCOUNTING/ADMINISTRATION: Casey Armstrong - casey@aerialfiremag.com
28 USS Bonhomme Richard Aerial Firefighting Response 30 TracPlus and Airborne Mission Systems Launch AFDAU-T1 32 Director of Garfield County Airport, Home of Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting, Honored by CDOT 34 Eagle Copters Ltd. Supports San Diego County Sheriff Department Aviation Unit – Astrea, On Fire and Rescue Missions 36 Latitude Technologies’ OLMS and ATIS Capabilities Selected by Viking Air Limited 38 Camp Fire Tragedy Leads to New Wildfire Research 40 Stronger Protection from Bird and Drone Strikes Further Affirms Company’s Focus on Safety 42 Sweden’s Wildfire Defense Expands with Air Tractor Scooper Water Bombers
In Every Issue of AERIALFIRE...
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Monthly Columns and Sections
ADVERTISER INDEX
06 The Drop | Ryan Mason
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08 Aerial Fire Pics
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Air Tractor Inc....................................... 44 Columbia Helicopters............................ 31 Coulson Aviation................................... 41 Erickson................................................. 2 Fire Boss.............................................. 21 Flightcell.............................................. 37 Frost Flying Inc. ................................... 23 Isolair.................................................. 33 Kawak Aviation Technologies.................. 37 Lane Aviation Inc.................................. 39 Neal Aircraft........................................... 7 Southewest Airmotive............................ 43 Tangent—Europe.................................. 25 Trotter Controls....................................... 5 Turbine Conversions LTD........................ 27
Cover image: Erickson Aircrane “Marty” On this page: Firebird 331, a Bell 212 fills with water during firefighting efforts outside of Mansfield, Victoria during the 2020 fire season.
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aerialfiremag.com | AF 5
THE DROP
Ryan Mason ryan@aerialfire.com
The Post COVID Reality As we enter what seems like an endless loop of COVID related restrictions, trying to adjust to our “new normal” is one thing that has struck me more than anything else. Our new normal is anything but “normal.” As I walk around supermarkets and other businesses watching mask clad people walking the aisles or look at my kids sitting in their newly built “home classroom,” I know that COVID has definitely changed the way we do even the most familiar and mundane things that we previously took for granted. For the aviation industry, specifically aerial firefighting, the changes are thankfully minimal based on the nature of the work. However, for our brothers and sisters on the other side of the aviation coin that we like to joke about being the “bus drivers of the sky” in commercial aviation, the news has not been as fortunate. Almost every major carrier, along with making severe changes to how they treat the air travel experience, has also had to face a drastic drop in passenger numbers. In most cases, this has decimated commercial carrier’s bottom lines. Resulting in thousands of furloughs, which have, in turn, led to mass layoffs and early retirements for many pilots who were fortunate enough to be eligible when the downturn appeared to be permanent. I recently took a trip to Alaska for a wedding, usually no big deal for a seasoned traveler like myself. However, in the COVID concerned year of 2020, it was an entirely different ballgame. What should have been a relatively easy 10 or so hours on a plane with a few more on a layover became 14-hours of drudgery wearing a mask. This included being woken up during my mid-air nap by a frantic flight attendant concerned that my mask had fallen below my nose as I slept. Such is the paranoia of a global pandemic I guess that has caused such great concern among fellow citizens whereby those who choose not to wear a mask are chastised by those AF 6 | aerialfiremag.com
who do, or in my case, those who make an unconscious mistake while on a plane are looked at as someone who intentionally endangered a flight. The one thing I became aware of during my flight outside the lower 48 was that this virus has done more than scare the average citizen, but has dragged on so long that it has caused many to remain in a hyper-aware state where those who are not following the exact directions given by government agencies are treated with fear, scorn and even life-changing consequences like a criminal conviction. I do know that COVID-19 has changed the lives of so many for the worse. There are those like myself that are minimally affected by having a wife now out of work. However, my wife is a teacher on the flip side, so I am now fortunate enough to have an in-home teacher for my two school-age children. Some have lost it all as businesses remain in permanent lockdown, forcing them out of business and, like many larger businesses, causing widespread unemployment that may take years or even decades to recover. As much as I have seen terrible losses caused by COVID, the one thing that makes me realize we will all be ok on the other side of it is the many signs of resilience noted as you walk by businesses or homes. Even in my neighborhood, things like drive-by birthday parades for kids on lockdown began to happen as things adjusted around restrictions. These spread from a few friends to local police and firemen showing up with their police cars and fire engines with sirens wailing, to the recipients’ delight. I need only to walk down my street once the sun sets to see people in their driveways adjusting to their new routine with drinks in hand and spread out six feet apart to know that we will be ok and get through this. Fly Safe,
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A Croman Helicopters S-61 attacks the Apple Fire in California. Photo by Brenden Murawski AF 8 | aerialfiremag.com
AERIALFIRE PICS
The S-64 Erickson Aircrane “Incredible Hulk” fighting fires in California Photo by Mike Murawski
aerialfiremag.com | AF 9
Bridger Aerospace’s new CL-415 EAF fighting the North Fire outside Las Vegas. Photo by Rob Stults
Newly refurbished Tanker 22, a P-3 Orion touches down in Colorado after a mission. Photo by Steve Nelson AF 10 | aerialfiremag.com
A Neptune Aviation BAE-146 drops retardant in Southern California. Photo by Jeff Serpa
AERIALFIRE PICS
Tanker 103 from Erickson Aero Tanker lays down retardant in Arizona. Photo by Brock Lash
aerialfiremag.com | AF 11
AF 12 | aerialfiremag.com
KESTREL AVIATION
by Ryan Mason
INNOVATING TO KEEP AUSTRALIANS SAFE Beginning operations in 1985, many would be surprised to know that Kestrel Aviation began not an aerial firefighting company, but as a training provider. Although training is still a significant component of what the company does, Kestrel Aviation has grown to be very different from its humble beginnings in the 1980s.
Above: Kestrel Aviation founder Ray Cronin Left: Kestrel Aviation has a long standing business partnership with Oregon based Erickson Aircrane that sees multiple Air Cranes shipped to Australia for firefighting operations managed locally by Kestrel. aerialfiremag.com | AF 13
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Above Left: Kestrel Aviation has partnered with U.S. based Firehawk Helicopters to bring Black Hawk helicopters
The founder of Kestrel Aviation, Ray Cronin, identified a need for quality helicopter training in Australia’s early 1980s. He also decided to be the change he wanted to see in the industry by starting Kestrel Aviation.
to Australia to fight fires for the next several years. Below Left: Kestrel operates several different Bell models that include mutliple Bell 412’s like this model seen
As the industry changed over the years, Kestrel continued to change and adapt, adjusting the business focus. As the company grew, Cronin moved location from Moorabbin in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne to Mangalore, situated an hour north of Melbourne.
training near Mangalore, Victoria. Above Right: One of Kestrel’s 212’s rests among the smoke of the Mansfield fire operations center during a firefight during our visit in
The move to Mangalore was made for the more stable climate of inland Victoria, offering a much more conducive environment for helicopter flight training. It also enabled Kestrel to expand its training program for its overseas students by providing onsite accommodation and expanding the fleet and facilities.
with the improved operating costs of a newer aircraft was cheaper to maintain. Robinson aircraft offered that. Compared to the much older Bell 47’s we had, our continually dwindling parts inventory became harder and harder to replenish over time.” said Cronin. Kestrel Aviation continued to grow as a training company with a solid international reputation, attracting students from all over the world, developing to a fleet of ten Robinson R22’s flying constantly with the rapid influx of domestic and international student base that continued to grow.
January of 2020.
Flight Training Before Firefighting Below Right: Kestrel’s night aerial firefighting team pose for a photo before night testing of aerial firefighting operational effectiveness.
Initial flight training operations commenced at Kestrel with several Bell 47 helicopters. Cronin flew as both a business owner and flight instructor before switching to a Robinson R22 fleet in the early 1990s. “The Robinson range was too hard to pass up aerialfiremag.com | AF 15
Adjusting the Business Model Kestrel’s flight training operations flourished at Mangalore, with students from Japan, South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, and other countries worldwide. During his time spent training Japanese pilots, Cronin identified a need to provide multi-engine training and purchased a BK117 helicopter to meet Japanese clients’ needs. The BK117 was a regularly used helicopter in Japan before many state and federal agencies transitioned into the AS365 and later the AW139 helicopter. Since its very early days, Kestrel had also provided helicopters to Victoria and NSW for aerial fire fighting with both the B206 and the H369. Wanting to increase the utilization of the BK117, Cronin investigated the use of a belly tank on the BK117 for fire fighting to increase the capacity of the water being dropped and provide a twinengine option to the various fire agencies. Partnering with Simplex Aerospace in 2000, the two companies worked together to certify the first BK117 belly tank. The 1000 liter (264 Gallon) external belly tank was a game-changer for Kestrel. Seeing the advantages of belly-tank equipped fire fighting helicopters, and the shortage in Australia, Cronin developed a partnership with Canadian-based Tasman
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helicopters. The company’s Bell 212 helicopters would transition between the Canadian summer fire season and Australia that lasted several years. They added the benefit of using a larger aircraft with a water capacity for drops increasing to 1500 liters per bucket drop (396 Gallons) from 1000 liters. During this time, Kestrel purchased their own Bell 212 and, over the years, increased their fleet as the demand for belly tank equipped multi-engine helicopters grew.
Technology and Innovation As aircraft purchases continued, so too did development and innovation efforts at Kestrel. Cronin and his team continued investigating the best options for aerial firefighting for each aircraft the company deployed. As Cronin continued to streamline operations, he invested in external tanks for aircraft, starting with the Conair 85 medium tank. Initially installed on several Bell 212 helicopters, which he believes to be the best medium tank in the business. Kestrel was also integral in obtaining Australian certification for the same tank to be installed on the Bell 412. The company was also sourcing further 412 airframes to add to its fleet for firefighting efforts in Australia. After buying several Conair 85 tanks from an operator in Canada, Kestrel began upgrading them. Each now features
Left: One of Kestrel’s fleet of Bell 412’s participating in night aerial firefighting testing before being approved as the first night aerial firefighting operation in Australia. Below: Firebird 331, a Bell 212 fills with water during firefighting efforts outside of Mansfield, Victoria during the 2020 fire season.
aerialfiremag.com | AF 17
electric Kawak brushless pumps that have been upgraded from their earlier hydraulic systems, speeding up filling the tank from 50 seconds to 19 seconds per fill. In 2008, Kestrel continued its acquisition of aerial firefighting capable aircraft. Thanks in part to their already solid relationship with Japanese authorities from years invested in training Japanese pilots, the company was able to purchase several former Japan government Bell 412s.
Partnering for Success Kestrel now operates a fleet of six Bell 412s, five Bell 212’s, and a Bell 206L owned by the company. In recent years, however, the company has continued to expand through partnerships. In 2013, Kestrel partnered with Oregon based Erickson AirCrane. The company would go on to provide a total of six Erickson S-64 Air Crane® helicopters around Australia. Two are located in Victoria, two in New South Wales, and one in South Australia and Western Australia. This contract was initially a five-year contract that has recently extended for an additional five years. The contract deploys the aircraft to
AF 18 | aerialfiremag.com
Australia every fire season to assist in firefighting efforts. “When we looked at what the market was doing and what the future of the aerial firefighting industry needed going forward in Australia, it was clear that the industry needs aircraft with larger capacities to fight some of the fires we have in the 2019/2020 season,” when asked about future expansion said Cronin. Kestrel is already ahead of the game related to larger aircraft, partnering with Florida based Firehawk Helicopters. Their partnership will see two Firehawks S-70 helicopters spend the Australian summer down under fighting fires. When asked about the development of a relationship with Firehawk while the operation of Blackhawks in aerial firefighting in Australia is still relatively new, Cronin stated that they partnered with the right company by choosing Firehawk. Firehawk is a company that has been at the forefront of development since the very beginning of the Blackhawk airframe after its release into the civilian market, so they have a great deal of maturity related to that aircraft market.
Setting the Standard Kestrel is no stranger to innovation. That trend continued in 2017 when the company was asked by Emergency Management Victoria to participate in the first Australian trial of night firefighting using Night Vision Goggles (NVG.) Kestrel deployed its team in a Bell 412 for the initial testing phase through 2017, which was then made operational during the 2018/2019 fire season in Australia. Kestrel has won several awards that include an international aerial firefighting award at the European Aerial Firefighting conference in 2019, an award for their outstanding contribution to the aerial firefighting industry in Nimes, France, and an award from the Airborne Public Safety Association in 2019 for championing the use and need of night vision equipment outside of North America. The company is also a finalist in the A20 Aerospace awards to be held in 2020. When asked about the 2019/2020 fire season and its impact on the company, Cronin stated that there wasn’t an easy way to describe the last season. It tested everyone’s abilities and was an incredible challenge for everyone, from the government agencies involved to the dozens of contract companies such as Kestrel. He noted that the company had dropped over 60,000,000 liters (approximately 16.1 Million gallons) through the last season, which exceeded any previous season. Cronin explained that the company doesn’t have a grand vision of being the biggest aerial firefighting company in Australia. He instead concentrates on the quality of the service they already provide to their customers. Cronin says he prefers concentrating on what they are good at, which seems to be a business recipe that keeps the company working year after year, keeping Australians safe.
Left: Two Erickson Air Cranes sit at Essendon Airport in Victoria, Australia awaiting dispatching to the fire line. Top: A Firehawk/Kestrel UH-60 sits awaiting fuel afrer firefighting efforts in Australia Middle: Erickson Aircrane “Marty” begins nightly maintenance after fighting fires in Mansfield, Victoria in January. Bottom: Some of Kestrel’s fleet of 212’s & 412’s sit at their base in Mangalore, Victoria. Photos supplied by John “Max” Jaques.
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COVID-19 Leads to Downturn in Helicopter Accidents for First Half of 2020 A Reduction in Helicopter Operations Leads to a Reduction in Accidents WASHINGTON D.C. – The first six months of 2020 have been challenging for the helicopter community and for the entire aviation industry, but one positive from the circumstances has been a decrease in accidents.
U.S. Helicopter Safety Team Also Adds New Safety Experts to its Steering Committee
From January through June 2020, the U.S. helicopter industry experienced 42 total accidents with nine of them being fatal accidents. For the same period in 2019, there were 69 total accidents and 15 of them were accidents involving fatalities. According to the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (www.USHST.org), some of this decrease stems from a decrease in flights during the COVID-19 outbreak. It is estimated that total flights were down from 10 to 30 percent during any given period this Spring. The fatal accident rate per 100,000 flight hours was 0.63 for Jan.-Jun 2020. For full year 2019, the rate was 0.80 according to preliminary data. This year, the USHST also welcomed new safety experts to serve on its expanded Steering Committee: •
•
•
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Mike Newell, Director of Aviation Safety at Airbus Helicopters, replaces Emanuele “Manny” Figlia, who recently retired from Airbus. Chris Hill, Director of Safety for the Helicopter Association International, joined the Steering Committee. Scott Tyrrell, FAA Rotorcraft Safety & Accident Investigator, also joined the Committee.
Here is the entire USHST Steering Committee: Nick Mayhew – L3Harris (co-chair) Wayne Fry – FAA (co-chair) Dawn Groh – ERAU Mike Newell – Airbus Lauren Haertlein – GAMA Tony Randall – Bell Chris Hill – HAI Tim Tucker – Robinson Christopher Lowenstein – Sikorsky Scott Tyrrell - FAA Raj Helwig – Air Methods (Emeritus)
Each year, the U.S. helicopter industry safely flies more than 3.2 million flight hours. Working together, we can build on that safe record and eliminate the small number of accidents that do occur.
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SEI Industries Introduces MultiFuel Bulk Aviation Transport Tank for Jet, Diesel and Gasoline Fuel SEI Industries introduced a new multi-fuel model of the award-winning Bulk Aviation Transport Tank (BATT) in a press release from the company on July 8th, 2020. The BATT Multi-Fuel is a complete fuel transport system for aircraft that will allow operators to switch between flying jet, diesel, and gasoline depending on their requirements. First introduced in 2011, the BATT has been trusted by aircraft operators around the world to transport large quantities of bulk fuel to remote locations. The BATT is a heavy-duty abrasionresistant tank that reduces the risk of fuel spillage, improves aircraft safety conditions, and provides a sustainable long-term alternative to single-use fuel drums. Development of the Multi-Fuel initially began when SEI was presented with a challenge from a customer who had the need to switch between flying diesel and gasoline fuel. Given the difficulties of transporting gasoline, identifying an effective combination of fabric material to meet the requirements of housing multiple fuel types proved to be a significant hurdle. AF 22 | aerialfiremag.com
Following a lengthy research and development process, the BATT Multi-Fuel was born. SEI engineers were successful in developing one complete system capable of safely meeting jet, diesel, and gasoline transport requirements. Users now have the capability to securely fly multiple fuel types without the need to alternate between different BATT models. This will allow them to cut down on response times between missions while retaining the same cost, safety, and environmental advantages of existing BATT models. With the introduction of the multi-fuel, SEI proudly becomes the first company with a Transportation of Dangerous Goods Equivalency Certificate (SU 12637) to transport jet, diesel, and gasoline fuel without special permits using one fuel system. The BATT Multi-Fuel has a life expectancy of 10 years and is available in more than 20 sizes ranging from capacities of 100 to 2,480 USG (379 to 9,388 L). Visit sei-ind.com/products/multi-fuelbatt/ for more information.
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HAI Announces the Passing of James Wisecup the last two decades,” says Raj Helweg, chief pilot at Air Methods. “He was a foundational part of how we train our pilots today. When I first came to Air Methods, he mentored me, as well as so many others, on how to become an aviation operations manager. We truly lost a great aviator, a wonderful educator, and a tremendous person and friend.”
Alexandria, VA – Helicopter Association International (HAI) sincerely regrets the passing of industry stalwart and past chairman of the Board of Directors James O. Wisecup. Service information is pending and will be provided when available. Wisecup, a highly experienced 16,000hour dual-rated pilot, had recently retired from his post as assistant chief pilot of helicopter air ambulance (HAA) operator Air Methods. Never one to sit still, Jim had just completed the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in aviation science from Southern Utah University (SUU). He was awarded the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in late June in recognition of his 50 years of professional, safe flight. “Jim was a highly respected member of the rotorcraft community, and we will miss his knowledge and leadership,” says HAI President and CEO James A. Viola. “He was an advocate for safe flying, training, and mentorship, and he was always willing to share his experience and passion for flying.” Growing up in the Houston area, Jim knew even as a teenager that he wanted to fly for a living—his first ride in an airplane had taught him that—so he joined the US Army, which was then recruiting high-school graduates to fill helicopter pilot positions in Vietnam. During his year in-country, Wisecup flew for the MACV-SOG unit, which conducted special ops missions. Characteristically, he turned his year of living dangerously into a funny story, remarking that he had had three engine failures caused by FOD (foreign object damage). The first was AF 24 | aerialfiremag.com
caused by a mortar round, the second by an artillery shell, and the third by a rocket-propelled grenade. He earned several decorations, including a Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and multiple air medals. Wisecup was discharged in April 1971 and used his GI benefits to get his fixedwing ratings, but his real goal was to get a job in the helicopter industry. He started as a line pilot in 1974, flying for Offshore Helicopters in Texas, and five years later was chief pilot for Bristow Helicopters US operations. His work for Bristow took him all around the world. After a stint at Arctic Air, Jim next moved to the HAA sector in 1987, working first for Rocky Mountain Helicopters and, after 2002, for Air Methods Corp. In a 2018 interview with ROTOR magazine, Jim explained his long tenure in air ambulance this way: “It felt like the right place to make a difference—helping pilots to be better pilots, our managers to be better managers, and my check airmen to be better check airmen. Because if we can help each other, it’s a whole lot easier.” “Jim was a true leader at Air Methods who positively impacted nearly every aviator that came through Air Methods in
Throughout his career, Wisecup made a point of sharing his knowledge and experience with the rotorcraft community. He was an active HAI volunteer, serving on the Air Medical, Flight Operations, and Heliport Committees. His contributions were noticed by the industry, which elected him to the HAI Board of Directors, and he served as the 2018–19 chairman of the association. His last term on the board ended on June 30, 2020. Wisecup was also active in the SUU College of Aerospace Sciences and Technology. There, he served as chairman of the Aviation Advisory Board, advanced flight instructor, and FAA designated pilot examiner, while mentoring hundreds of pilots. SUU representatives calculate that, since 2013, Wisecup had performed approximately 700 check rides with its students. “SUU was truly blessed to have Jim Wisecup as part of our family,” says Michael Mower, executive director and chief instructor, College of Aerospace Sciences and Technologies. “His influence and involvement over the last decade have left an indelible mark on a multitude of young and old pilots. The course of SUU’s aviation program is forever changed because of Jim’s guidance.”
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ASU Selected to Provide Fixed-Wing NVG Training for FAA Flight Standards Operation Inspectors and Aircraft Certification Pilots
ASU was selected as the successful bidder to provide fixed wing NVG
BOISE, Idaho — Aviation Specialties Unlimited, (ASU) was awarded the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards Operations Inspectors and Aircraft Certification Pilots night vision goggle (NVG) contract while operating fixed-wing aircraft. ASU will provide both initial training and recurrent training to FAA beginning July 1, 2020. ASU initially began training the FAA in 2017, when they were awarded the first fixedwing training contract. ASU first started training FAA pilots on helicopters in 2007.
completions. Additionally, ASU’s pride lies in our training environment, which can replicate any environment just minutes from the Boise airport. ASU is the only training provider that can take a pilot from a high light, open desert environment to backcountry mountainous terrain with zero artificial light in a matter of a few minutes. This setting allows us to equip a pilot with the tools they need to operate safely in a plethora of scenarios and leave them with a wide range of experiences to function anywhere they may go”.
“The FAA’s trust in ASU to train both their helicopter and fixed-wing flight standards Operations inspectors is a testament to the entire ASU team,” said ASU Director of Training, Josh Grier. “By awarding the training contract again to ASU, the FAA demonstrates that they remain confident in our knowledge and experience. ASU’s mission is to save lives through expansive training and products. ASU is committed to making sure that anyone using night vision goggles to aid in nighttime operations is properly trained and equipped for safe mission
ASU’s training takes place in Boise, Idaho, in the high desert mountains and in remote areas where low-light conditions and challenging terrain make it ideal for training. ASU has trained pilots and crews from around the world that fly in extreme conditions for unique missions. For initial NVG flight training, FAA pilots and inspectors will receive eight hours of classroom training, 1.5 hours of daytime flight training, and 5.5 hours of NVG flight training. ASU will also conduct recurrent training at its Boise site.
training for the FAA.
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“We continue to empower operators and regulating entities in many countries around the world to use night vision goggles around the world to save lives and increase safety,” said ASU President Jim Winkel. “The aviation industry becomes safer tomorrow as more advocates for flight safety like the FAA receive NVG training and gain valuable insight into safe NVG flight operations. ASU is committed to further education and training not only in the United States but also around the world. We appreciate the vote of confidence by the FAA continuing our working relationship with them soon.”
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In the first contract for the FAA fixed-wing training, ASU trained 19 inspectors for both initial and recurrent training. Including helicopter training iterations, ASU has conducted over 800 training events for the FAA in its 25-year history. “Continuous NVG training is vital for pilots that operate in this demanding environment,” said ASU Director of Business Development Chad St. Francis. “Fixed-wing NVG operations within the national airspace is relatively new to this community. Most of the regulations for NVG operations have been tailored for rotary-wing operations. We see growth in the NVG fixedwing community, especially from aerial fire suppression operations, aerial agricultural spraying, law enforcement, and DoD/Federal contractors. The FAA recognizes that these operations require standardization and certification, as with the rotary-wing community. We look forward to providing initial and recurrent fixed-wing NVG ground and flight training to both FAA Inspector Pilots as well as endorse those Commercial FixedWing operators that require NVG operations to execute business and missions safely.
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USS Bonhomme Richard Aerial Firefighters Aid Response
by Ryan Mason The Navy’s USS Bonhomme Richard was well alight as aerial firefighters were called in to help extinguish the blaze aboard the amphibious assault ship docked in San Diego. The vessel had recently completed a retrofit that would see the ship able to accommodate the Navy’s fleet’s latest aircraft, the F-35. The Navy reported that aerial firefighting efforts conducted by MH-60G helicopters equipped with Bambi Buckets reached a staggering 1,500 drops since firefighting operations began. It is believed that an explosion triggered a fire that continued to burn for four days below decks onboard USS Bonhomme Richard that the Navy states after investigations began, has damaged 11 of the 14 decks on the ship. The fire injured 63 personnel, 40 Sailors, and 23 civilians that have been treated for minor injuries, including heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation.
Operations from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 continued throughout the four days it took to extinguish the flames to aid the cooling of the superstructure and flight deck of the ship, which enabled fire crews to get on board to fight the fire internally. Pictures released by the Navy taken on board the helicopters fighting the fire from above show substantial damage to the ship’s upper deck. Several large holes in the deck now expose the deck below, which currently offers crews the aircraft’s ability to penetrate below decks with water drops. “There is no threat to the fuel tanks, which is well-below any active fires or heat sources. The ship is stable, and the structure AF 28 | aerialfiremag.com
is safe. We still have an active fire, which we combat both within and outside the ship from multiple access points. HSC 3 helicopters have conducted more than 1,000 helicopter water bucket drops, which is cooling the superstructure and flight deck enabling fire crews to get on board internally to fight the fire. Tugs are also provide firefighting support from the waterline. I’m proud of the toughness of the Sailors and Federal Firefighters for making this significant progress possible. At this time, there are 61 personnel, 38 U.S. Navy Sailors and 23 civilians, have been treated for minor injuries, including heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. Currently, there are no personnel hospitalized. Going forward, the Navy will do a thorough investigation of the incident to include assessing the cause of the fire and damage to the ship, but right now, our focus remains on putting out the fire and keeping people safe. I’d like to also thank our partners from state and county as well as the Coast Guard for monitoring the potential impacts to the environment.” Said Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck, Expeditionary Strike Group Three commander, in a press conference July 14th, 2020 detailing the Navy response to the incident. Although the incident is still under investigation, there have been several media outlets reporting that sources state that the investigation is now pursuing leads that may indicate arson as the potential cause, with one outlet saying that a sailor who has not been identified has been interviewed in relation to the fire.
Left: The USS Bonhomme Richard has a Bambi Bucket load dropped on its deck during firefighting operations by a UH-60G Right above: The view from on board one of the Navy UH-60 helicopters fighting the fire showing the ship being attacked from land and air to extinguish the flames that burned for four days. Right Middle: Aerial firefighting efforts continued around the clock and totalled over 1500 drops over 4 days. Right Below: A civilian contractor outside the smouldering USS Bonhomme Richard during the firefighting effort. aerialfiremag.com | AF 29
TracPlus and Airborne Mission Systems Launch AFDAU-T1
Airborne Mission Systems team.
TracPlus Global and Aircraft Maintenance Solutions (AMS) have launched the aerial firefighting data acquisition unit, AFDAU-T1 – a product set to revolutionise the way aerial firefighters collect and report operational data.
“Our goal was to bring a dedicated aerial firefighting data acquisition unit to the market that had been designed to meet the NAFC event reporting contract requirements,” says AFDAU-T1 Lead Engineer, Zane Vohland.
Designed to meet the National Aerial Firefighting Centre of Australia’s (NAFC) OPS-14 Standards, AFDAU-T1 is the first automatic bucket calibration and digital data collection tool for aerial firefighters. The new NAFC new standard stipulates that operators must accurately collect and report volume collected/dropped, engine start/stop and takeoffs/landings and proof of substantive flow from an aircraft.
“With AFDAU-T1, operators don’t need to worry about data accuracy. They will have peace of mind that their data is reliable, automatic and accurate.”
The product offers unique benefits for rotary and fixed-wing operators. For rotary aircraft, AFDAU-T1 removes the need for manual calibration/ recalibration of a bucket, meaning that no pilot interaction is required, even when swapping buckets in a slung load configuration. For fixedwing operators, the device automatically and accurately detects operational data for accurate reporting – including proof of substantive flow from a hopper, as outlined by the new NAFC standard. AF 30 | aerialfiremag.com
Vohland and his team work in alliance with NAFC to ensure the technology allows operators to meet the requirements of their contract. Together, the AFDAU-T1 and RockAIR devices allow data to be sent and stored in TracPlus for proof of compliance and reporting. This data is also sent to NAFC’s ARENA software to allow contractors to fulfil contractual event reporting requirements. “NAFC has followed the development of AFDAU-T1 closely and are encouraged to see this equipment become available for Firefighting Aircraft in Australia. NAFC is pleased that there is now an additional device on the market for operators
wishing to fulfil contractual event reporting requirements, particularly the difficult task of reporting firefighting bucket fill and drop volumes,” says Andrew Matthews, Manager Capacity NAFC. Aerial firefighting is hugely costly for operators, especially when they are grounded due to faulty equipment. It is the belief of AMS and TracPlus that operators deserve affordable, yet reliable, products and utilising modern technologies, AFDAU-T1 offers a price point significantly lower than current systems on the market. “In 2018, we started to trial the AFDAU-T1 prototype in one of our BK117’s, says established Aerial Firefighter, Jim Norrie of United Aero Helicopters. “We had been looking for an alternate and cost-effective solution to meet our contractual firefighting needs and saw the TracPlus/AFDAU-T1/RockAIR combination as a possible solution. From day one the diligent team at Airborne Mission Systems proved successful in accomplishing and meeting our requirements. We’ve now seen one very busy fire season of data collection with the AFDAU-T1 unit and the results have been outstanding. We are now planning to upgrade our legacy systems through the fleet.”
Fixed-wing operators have also been testing the device, which is exceeding expectations. “Our initial results have been far above our expectations. The combination of AFDAU-T1 and RockAIR is cost-effective, yet offers a solution that is streets ahead of the competition. I am excited to be testing an innovative product built by leaders in the aerial firefighting world,” says Michael (Mick) Gribble, Founder of Alpine Airwork. For more details about AFDAU-1, visit www.tracplus.com/ AFDAU.
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Director of Garfield County Airport, Home of Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting, Honored by CDOT
The award recognizes “an aviation professional who exhibits complete dedication to their community and airport, as well as for their outstanding contributions to the Colorado airport system,”
The award recognizes “an aviation professional who exhibits complete dedication to their community and airport, as well as for their outstanding contributions to the Colorado airport system,” a Division of Aeronautics statement noted. “Individuals recognized as the ‘Colorado Aviation Professional of the Year’ also demonstrate values that align with the CDOT Division of Aeronautics’ mission to advance a safe, efficient and effective statewide air and space system through collaboration, investment and advocacy.” Condie was informed of the honor at the 2020 Colorado Aeronautical Board meeting in June. “I appreciate all the support the Aeronautics Division has given the airport over the past 18 years I’ve been here,” he said. “They have a vested interest in the airport and I’m very appreciative of the recognition. Colorado aviation is the best in the country.”
Rifle Garfield County Airport Director Brian Condie has been honored the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics and the Colorado Aeronautical Board by being named the state’s “2020 Aviation Professional of the Year.” Dave Ulane, Colorado Division of Aeronautics director, offered soaring praise, saying Condie is “innovative, forward-thinking and collaborative.” He told the Board of County Commissioners that his organization recognizes aviation professionals each year for their outstanding contributions to the “aviation world.” “I don’t have to tell you what Brian has done for your community. That award is given to those that have shown very longstanding and outstanding commitment to their community and their airport,” he said.
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In his time at Garfield County, Condie has helped elevate the county airport into one of the finest in the state. Under his tenure, the Rifle Garfield County Airport has made more than $56 million in capital improvements, including the complete realignment of the runway in 2010. It is also home to the Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting, helping crews battle wildfires on the Western Slope. A 2020 economic impact study of airports noted that the Rifle Garfield County Airport supports 277 jobs and generates close to $41 million in business revenues annually. Condie, who’s currently the third-longest tenured airport director in the state, accepted the award at the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting on July 6. “I had no idea. There 76 airports in Colorado, so to receive this was very special,” Condie said.
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Eagle Copters Ltd. Supports San Diego County Sheriff Department Aviation Unit – Astrea, on Fire and Rescue Missions “We have flown these helicopters in some of the worse fire conditions imaginable and they have always completed the mission.”–Tony Webber, Senior Fire/Rescue Pilot
CALGARY –San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is a law enforcement agency that has an aviation unit providing aerial support commonly known as ASTREA. The Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies – ASTREA, was established in 1971 by the late sheriff John Duffy. The unit started operating three (3) Bell 47 helicopters purchased with a federal grant. Over the past 48 years, ASTREA has evolved into professional airborne law enforcement and fire rescue unit, highly respected throughout the country. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit – ASTREA, operates a fleet of
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nine helicopters. Of the nine helicopters, four are MD500 series helicopters and two are Bell 407 helicopters, which are primarily dedicated to law enforcement support. Three helicopters (Bell 205 A1++) are primarily dedicated to fire suppression/search and rescue operations. The relationship between Eagle Copters and ASTREA, started around 2003 when the Cedar fire in San Diego burned more than 273,000 acres and people lost their homes, soon after this unfortunate event the first two of San Diego’s Bell 205 fire- rescue helicopters were ordered. The unit took delivery of the two machines in 2005, and its most senior pilots began training to fly hoist rescue and initial attack fire missions.
Group pic left: The team from Eagle Copters and the San Diego Sheriffs Department pose on the ramp after a successful ferry flight of their refurbished aircraft from Calgary to San Diego. Right: ASTREA’s refurbished aircraft in Calgary before returning to California. Inset: ASTREA’s Bell
“I have been involved with Eagle Copters and their Bell 205’s since the inception of ASTREA’S Fire Rescue program in 2005. I have flown all three of our Bell 205’s built by Eagle and have found them all to be top-notch equipment that has covered our mission for 15 years. We have flown these helicopters in some of the worse fire conditions imaginable and they have always completed the mission.” Tony Webber, Senior Fire/Rescue Pilot Eagle Copters and ASTREA’s most recent work scopes have been focused on their three Bell 205’s. The original two machines received full “tip to tail” refurbishments identifying and addressing fatigued zones which could lead to unplanned AOG situations in the field.
205 is put through its paces in Calgary during a test flight. Photos supplied by Eagle Copters.
“We are very proud to offer our 24/7 support to ASTREA. The critical role they play in various life-saving missions requires lightning-quick response time. In addition to their highly skilled maintenance team, we strive to do everything we can to help ensure they experience little to no
downtime.” Wes Semeniuk, Customer Support Manager. These completions included avionics packages and NVIS modifications; as well as, ASTREA’s Bell 407 project completion. “We have been working closely with ASTREA to recommend mission-specific Avionics packages to suit their requirements. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Team.” Luba Jovicic, Customer Support – Avionics Lead. Ozark Aeroworks, Eagle’s engine partner in the USA – Springfield, Missouri, has played a big part in supporting ASTREA’s operations throughout the years. Ozark Aeroworks is a T53 engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility with extensive knowledge and in-house capabilities. They are extremely customer-focused directly resulting in industry-leading quality, price, and fast turn around times.
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Latitude Technologies’ OLMS and ATIS Capabilities Selected by Viking Air Limited
VICTORIA, BC—Latitude Technologies, a leading avionics design and manufacturing firm, is proud to announce that its Operational Loads Monitoring System (OLMS) and Air Tanker Information System (ATIS) for aerial firefighting aircraft have been selected as factory OEM options on Viking Air Limited’s CL-415EAF “Enhanced Aerial Firefighter” amphibious aircraft. The endorsement by Viking allows CL-415EAF “Enhanced Aerial Firefighter” customers the ability to select Latitude’s Operational Loads Monitoring System (OLMS) and Air Tanker Information System (ATIS) at the time of purchase. Both of these options were selected by CL-415EAF launch customer Bridger Aerospace.
firefighting missions. In addition, it leverages the Latitude Flight Data Analytics (LFDA) Flight Data Monitoring platform to support mission/incident investigation to improve training and monitor standard operating procedure compliance. This powerful web-based software allows multiple users within an organization to view flight data and generated events for analysis critical for safety. Latitude’s OLMS will enable Bridger Aerospace’ Flight Operations team to playback flights and evaluate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as airspeed and point of retardant release. Maintenance teams will also be able to monitor the health of the aircraft remotely and receive alerts for exceedance events enabling proactive inspection and reducing AOG times.
Latitude’s ATIS offers a fully-compliant aircraft-certified solution that meets governmental requirements including those of the United States Forestry Service (USFS). The USFS has listed Latitude’s ATIS solution as a recommended option for those applying to government-tendered contracts for aerial firefighting. Enabled by Latitude’s IONode and SkyNode satellite communications devices, ATIS allows operators, agencies, and regulators to visualize aerial fire attack data with detailed reporting such as drops per hour and volume per attack.
“Viking’s selection of our software programs solidifies Latitude’s position as a leading provider of telemetry and aircraft solutions for aerial firefighting,” mentioned Jan van der Heul, Vice President Sales of Latitude Technologies. “The Latitude engineering team pioneered the tracking of aerial water-bombers which eventually led to the Automated Flight Following (AFF) standard in North America – it’s nice to see Latitude’s solutions recognized by major OEMs such as Viking Air Limited.”
Latitude’s OLMS offers operators USFS compliance through data collection and recording over the duration of aerial
For more information on Latitude Technologies’ solutions, contact sales@latitudetech.com or visit www.latitudetech.com.
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“Our lives should not be sacrificed this easily”:
Camp Fire Tragedy Leads to New Wildfire Research The National Science Foundation has awarded Assistant Professor Hamed Ebrahimian a $2 million grant to develop novel wildfire risk assessment and mitigation tools. On November 8, 2018, the deadliest wildfire in California’s history ignited in Butte County outside the city of Paradise. When it was declared contained 17 days later, the Camp Fire had burned more than 150,000 acres, destroyed 18,000 buildings and taken 86 lives.
The research project envisions an eventual live digital platform that evolves with new data and dynamically updates the longterm to shortterm.
Like many, Hamed Ebrahimian, assistant professor in the College of Engineering, was moved by this tragedy. And when he discovered the fire was part of a growing trend of wildfire danger—for the last twenty years, on average, seven million acres of U.S. land have burned in wildfires annually—he got to work. Harnessing his expertise in computational modeling in civil engineering, Ebrahimian began pursuing a better way to understand fire risk. He assembled a multi-institutional group of researchers with a similar desire to use science and technology to reduce the chances that the world would suffer from another wildfire of the magnitude of the Camp Fire. Now, with the help of a 5-year, $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s LEAP-HI program, Ebrahimian is ready to realize his vision. “Some of the most tragic fatalities in the Camp Fire were due to unpredicted fire behavior, which surprised the victims and eliminated the proper reaction time. I told myself that we are in a digital and technology era and our lives should not be sacrificed this easily,” Ebrahimian said. “Two years later, I am grateful to be part of a solid team and to have received the support to execute this vision.”
AF 38 | aerialfiremag.com
The vision: A computational platform for multilevel wildfire risk assessment Researchers at the Desert Research Institute (DRI), UCLA, University at Buffalo, National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder (NCAR), and the University of Nevada, Reno Colleges of Science and Business are gathered together under the leadership of the University’s College of Engineering to redefine wildfire risk monitoring and management through the development of a new computational platform. The platform is intended for use by wildfire managers, emergency responders and utility companies to plan for, respond to, and mitigate the risk of wildfires. “This is an interdisciplinary intervention with a diverse team to blend different thinking modalities and to build a digital platform that can be used to monitor the risk of wildfire on a spectrum of spatial resolution and time,” Ebrahimian said. “Once developed, the computational platform will increase the efficiency of the wildfire management process by providing timely actionable information to decision-makers.” The research project envisions an eventual live digital platform that evolves with new data and dynamically updates the long-term (seasons/ months ahead) to short-term (weeks/days ahead) pre-ignition fire risks at regional and community scales for risk management, and the post-ignition fire behavior at near-real-time (hours-days) for situational awareness. Ebrahimian explained, “Our objective is to develop a systematic framework to quantify the risk of wildfires to wildland-urban-interface communities in terms of the total probability of loss. Loss is defined as a combination of monetary damage and the change in the quality of life of people. The
risk, thus, depends, on one hand, on the characteristics of the community, its structure, and location and, on the other hand, on the wildland and the factors affecting the fire ignition and spread, such as topography, climate conditions, fuel type and moisture. Now, we want to have the capability to combine all these factors and predict the seasons-month ahead to weeks-days-ahead risk for different communities and regions.” This goal will be accomplished by creating and integrating transdisciplinary scientific knowledge and techniques in the fields of data harnessing (collection, processing, fusion, and uncertainty quantification), computational modeling (wild- and urban-fire initiation and spread, as well as social quality-of-life models), stochastic simulation, and model-based inference. “This is a complex undertaking and requires the integration of various sources of data with a hierarchy of data-driven and physics-based models,” Ebrahimian continued. “The core idea is inspired by the many years of research advancement in the field of earthquake risk assessment and disaster resilience. Once developed and validated, the framework will be crucial to help make informed decisions and take preventive actions in order to scientifically reduce the risk of fires, and therefore, their effects on our communities and people. This can help reduce the risk of fires but the risk can never be eliminated. Therefore, another component of our computational platform is focused on predicting how active fires will behave and propagate. This will be instrumental to help the ground-zero firefighting activities.”
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Stronger Protection from Bird and Drone Strikes Further Affirms Thrush Aircraft’s Focus on Safety
Few hazards are more worrisome to an aerial firefighting pilot than a bird strike or, more recently, a high-speed drone strike. Post-impact images and outcomes reveal the extensive damage such collisions can cause – especially to the cockpit, and to the pilot when the aircraft windshield is compromised or penetrated. High speed impact resistant Storm Shield™ windshields from Storm Aeronautics are now becoming standard equipment on all models of Thrush
Thrush Aircraft is now providing customers with a significantly higher level of protection from such occurrences by making advanced technology Storm Shield™ windshields from Storm Aeronautics standard equipment on all Thrush aircraft beginning this summer.
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In testing at the National Institute of Aviation Research, Storm Shield windshields sustained impact energy loads eight-times greater than OEM windshields from a competing aircraft manufacturer before showing any visual damage. And at failure, the Storm Shield windshields produced small granular crumbles of material rather than the damaging slivers of glass common in other windshields under similar conditions – while also maintaining their structural integrity better than competing OEM windshields.
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“This was perhaps one of the easiest decisions I’ve made here at the company,” said Mark McDonald, chief executive officer of Thrush Aircraft. “Providing better protection for customers and their aircraft is something we take very seriously. And adding these new windshields is yet another part of our on-going commitment to building airplanes designed to bring pilots home safely each night” he continued. “We’re very proud to have our windshields become standard equipment exclusively on new Thrush Aircraft” said Jared Storm, president of Storm Aeronautics. “Like Thrush, we are deeply committed to pilot safety in every product we build. And flying behind a Storm Shield windshield provides a new level of cockpit protection that’s unmatched in the industry” he continued. In addition to becoming standard equipment on new Thrush aircraft, Storm Shield windshields are also available from Thrush as a retrofit kit for all current Thrush models. Installation requires roughly six hours with some sealant drying time, and kits can be ordered by contacting Kevin Pierce, director of services at Thrush, (229) 317-8222 or support@thrushaircraft.com.
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Sweden’s Wildfire Defense Expands with Air Tractor Scooper Water Bombers Air Tractor Europe, in a joint venture with Saab Support and Services, recently delivered to Sweden the second of two Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss scooper water bombers. The aerial firefighting airplanes, pilots and support crews will fulfill a contract with the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) to enhance Sweden’s aerial firefighting capabilities. Operations will span AprilSeptember fire seasons from 2020 through 2023. The aircraft are stationed at Skavsta Airport in Nyköping, Sweden 100 km south of Stockholm. The amphibious AT-802F single engine air tankers are included in the rescEU reserve and will serve in Sweden and northern Europe. If the aircraft are used in other EU member states, the EU or the member state in question will cover operational costs. For 2020, MSB has allocated approximately SEK 30 million in fixed costs. The European Union is financing 90 percent of the cost for preparedness measures. “For many years Air Tractor Europe has been a leading proponent of early detection and quick response to wildfires while they are still small,” AF 42 | aerialfiremag.com
says Air Tractor President Jim Hirsch. “Low operating costs, fuel efficiency, and extended operating range make these airplanes well suited for fire patrol duty—and immediate response—on days when wildfire risk is high. They have proven to be cost-efficient and effective for fighting wildfires in Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Cyprus. We are thrilled to see these airplanes now go into service for Northern Europe.” The AT-802F Fire Boss amphibious scooper water bomber has an 18-meter wingspan and carries a 3,104-liter load of water or fire retardant. The airplane is powered by a 1,700 horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F turbine engine that allows it to ferry to fires at speeds approaching 322 kph (173 kts). It lands on and scoops water from nearby lakes, rivers and reservoirs. When close to a water source, the AT-802F Fire Boss can deliver as much as 53,000 liters per hour for extended fire attack or ground support. Vicente Huerta Jr., owner and chief executive officer of Air Tractor Europe, reports the first
AT-802F Fire Boss was delivered to Saab in early April 2019; another airplane was delivered this year in May. The Spainbased company is the exclusive dealer of the American aircraft manufacturer Air Tractor Inc. for Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It provides aircraft sales and maintenance services, aircraft maintenance technician training, flight crew training, consulting, and aerial operations logistical services. Huerta said the MSB contract includes a contingency for two additional Fire Boss airplanes beginning with the 2021 fire season. Large scale forest fires in Sweden during the 2018 fire season were the impetus to expand Sweden’s aerial firefighting capabilities, particularly in the areas of water bombing and training for rescue and municipal emergency services personnel. The two scooper water bombers will allow the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency to respond more quickly and effectively to wildfire threats in Sweden and Northern Europe. From their base of operations at Skavsta Airport, the AT-802F Fire Boss aircraft can reach Copenhagen within two hours, or eastern Finland and Luleå in north Sweden within three hours.
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