INNOVATIVE AUSTRALIAN DESIGN HELPING TO FIGHT FIRES ALL OVER THE WORLD

By Jennifer Swaine

As a qualified engineer and helicopter pilot who had faced off against many bushfires, Jason Schellaars understood the limitations of firefighting tanks on the market at the time. That understanding, coupled with his engineering background, would lead Schellaars to Found Helitak to create a solution that would help helicopter pilots drop large loads of water onto bushfires in a controllable and precise manner.

As he saw it, there were two issues that, if solved, would increase the effectiveness of water delivery on fires from helicopters during firefighting operations. the skids contact the ground, which meant that a traditional underbelly fire tank could only carry the water the tank could hold. Yet many of the helicopters Schellaars was flying at the time had weight and balance potential to carry a far greater load.

As Schellaars set about finding a solution that would allow a helicopter to carry more water, he also solved the second problem on his list. Flat tanks quickly ran out of ‘head pressure,’ which meant controlling the drop became a challenge.

Over the ensuing years, Jason developed the Helitak expandable fire suppression tank, which solves both issues for helicopter operators engaged in fighting fires.

The expandable section of the tank, made of heavy-duty PVC vinyl, is tucked away safely behind the door assembly of the main unit until needed when filling. A specially designed pump and snorkel allow a tank filling to complete in less than 48 seconds, and the pilot can then quickly direct the water to where it is needed.

The tank’s funnel ‘trapezoidal’ shape design provides head pressure or mechanical force so that the full force of the water can be dropped with controlled precision every time.

Helitak commenced operations from its base of operations in Queensland, Australia, in 2006, and the efficiency and reliability of its tanks have not gone unnoticed. The company has won a stable of awards and, more recently, secured two FAA STC approvals. awarded an FAA STC in 2021. In March 2022, FAA STC Certification was awarded to the Helitak FT4250 Super Puma fire tank,” said Schellaars.

“The advantage of our tanks is that they are lightweight, offer large Type 1 water volume capacity, and have easy plug-and-play operations that deliver a perfect and controllable drop pattern every time. Organizations tasked with fighting fires know and trust our tanks to get the job done quickly and efficiently.

“It is great to see what we have created over the last 16 years. We have firmly established ourselves as an aerial firefighting design and manufacturing company, recognized for our innovative retractable design that maximizes head pressure and delivers high volumes of water and retardant in an unmatched drop pattern. I could not be prouder,” Schellaars added. ➤

The team now designs and develops fire tanks for the Airbus H125/AS350 AStar/Squirrel, the Bell Medium range, the Bell 214B and 214ST, the Sikorsky UH60/S70 Black Hawk, and the Airbus Super Puma airframes.

But it doesn’t stop there for the Helitak team. Earlier this year, they entered into a Cooperation Agreement with Milestone Aviation Group to collaborate on the design, production, testing and certification of a new aerial fire suppression tank for the Sikorsky S-92 airframe. They have also recently partnered with Arista Aviation and Seaview Aviation to assist with US sales, installations, service, and maintenance of their expandable aerial fire tanks.

Helitak now exports its tanks worldwide, including Europe, Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and South America.

“The growth we are experiencing is testimony to our team’s dedication, who each plays an integral role in the design and manufacture of each tank. We have built a great team, and we are all proud that the work we do saves lives, animals, and the environment worldwide,” Schellaars said.

Helitak FT4250 Super Puma Fire Tank Awarded FAA STC Certification

On the back of their announcement late last year that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had approved seven additional Sikorsky Black Hawk Type Certificates on the Helitak FT4500 Black Hawk STC, Helitak have now received certification for the Super Puma Fire Tank.

In 2019, European rotary operator ‘Heli Austria’ reached out to Helitak in a bid to fast-track the development of the Helitak FT4250 Super Puma fire tank. And while the pandemic delayed the process, three years of hard work has come to fruition with FAA issuing a Supplemental Type Certificate last week (Certification No: SR04509CH).

An Australian aerial firefighting design and manufacturing company, Helitak have been specialising in rotary aircraft fire suppressions systems for over a decade and their tanks are widely recognised for their innovative retractable design that maximises head pressure and delivers high volumes of water and retardant in an unmatched drop pattern. CEO and Founder of Helitak, Jason Schellaars said, “The advantage of our tanks is that they are lightweight, offer large Type 1 water volume capacity and have easy plug-and-play operations that deliver a perfect and controllable drop pattern every time.”

The STC Certification project was overseen and managed by U.S. Technical (Aviation Products, Services, Engineering & Certification) based in Southern California. In addition to continuing to work with Helitak on a number of projects, U.S. Technical will be the Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) house for this product.

The Super Puma tank offers a plug-and-play underbelly tank that can be installed or removed in less than 25 minutes, requires no costly aircraft modifications and is the only external Super Puma tank offering 1000 gallon+ capacity.

Maximizing the Mission: Comfort and Safety through Innovation

Whether you’re flying a wildland firefighting mission, an agricultural mission, or any mission for that matter, pilots and crews need a helmet that provides comfort, safety, and innovation. With a Paraclete helmet, customers get all three, plus the assurance that each helmet has exceeded the Department of Interior [DOI] United States Forest Service [USFS] civilian aviation helmet standard for rotor- and fixed-wing, in the company’s evidencedbased designed Aegis-D and Aspida-D Type 1 and 2 helmets. Paraclete is the only manufacturer to offer DOI-certified helmets in every size, S-XXL. Refer to the DOI’s website to review the extensive listing of Paraclete helmet certifications: https://www.doi.gov/aviation/safety/ helmet.

Exceeding the Expectation

Setting a higher standard in helmet manufacturing, Paraclete’s Aegis™ [ee-jis, ‘protection’] D Type 1 helmet and its Aspida™ [a-speed-a, ‘shield’] Type 1, and its Aspida Carbon helmet, represent the industry’s lightweight helmets, and the evidence-based research testing standards:

• Aspida™ RWH

• Aspida™ Carbon RWH

• Aspida™ FXW

• Aegis™ RWH

• Aspida™ FXW

• Testing Standards

Paraclete’s increasing presence into new markets to build strategic partnerships through federal and state agencies, global law enforcement agencies, national HEMS industry relationships, and an exclusive agreement with the federal military aviation research organization,the U.S. Army Aviation Research Laboratory [USAARL].

In its continued global expansion, Paraclete’s recent collaboration with the wireless communications solutions manufacturer in France, GlobalSys, provides customers with wireless voice communication solutions featuring audio clarity, noise reduction, sound quality, with the mobility and adaptability of reconfiguration options for civilian and military aviation.

“As a primary driver in business, innovation must be qualified to confirm its overall value, ” said Paraclete CEO and Founder Scott Hedges. “While we continue to enhance the value of our helmet product line, we look for those relationships that support our core tenets - comfort, innovation and safety. We found that value with GlobalSys and the expanding wireless communications technology delivering an asset that crews need to ensure efficient operations.”

GlobalSys CEO Dominique Retali, said, “Our systems have the highest sound quality, which is of great importance for all operators. The advanced technology with our mobile unit Airlink 3085 provides the option to reconfigure to adapt to multiple aircraft and mission types in less than five minutes. The on-board network blocks out noise to ensure clear communications and without the wires obstructing movement in the aircraft, whether in the pilot’s seat or conducting a rescue mission 50 feet below the aircraft.”

Glendale Police Department [GPD] Glendale, CA, police officer Patrick Hamblin said, “In addition to the noise canceling feature, we chose the Aspida Carbon specifically for its light weight while still providing the required safety levels. It was important to each of the pilots and tactical flight officers that we find a lightweight helmet that would also protect our hearing, and we found all of that with the Aspida Carbon.”

We tested helmets from a variety of different companies, but after testing the Aspida Carbon, our unit unanimously decided on Paraclete. We are very pleased with both the quality of the product, and Paraclete’s timely and helpful customer service, said Hamblin.

Lifting Safety to a Higher Level

As an industry advocate on safety, Paraclete, which means ‘advocate,’ conducts Aviation Life Support Equipment [ALSE] Level II Certified Maintenance

Training to ensure customers know how to use their helmet with the utmost safety. With Hedges at the helm, the core focus is safety not just during the mission, but before, during and after each mission.

An example of the company’s innovation in safety and comfort, Paraclete’s Aspida and Aegis helmets come complete with its paradigm-shifting Kairos™ retention assembly, which provides stability for the helmet, especially when using night vision goggles [NVG], allowing users to remove their counter-weight bags to reduce the amount of weight, ultimately decreasing the potential for neck and back injuries associated with excessive helmet weight.

Emily LaPlant, RRT-Flight Respiratory Therapist, Neonatal/Pediatric Transport Team, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital said, “I really like the new helmets. I used to always get headaches and my neck would hurt with my old helmet. I recently went on a very long flight while wearing my new Paraclete helmet and when I was finished, my head didn’t hurt and neither did my neck.”

“To be fitted properly, the helmet should allow for the differences in each unique head shape,” said Carlos Andino, Paraclete’s Business Development Director. “For a helmet to fit properly, the nape must be tight just below the occipital [bump] region. The result is a lightweight, comfortable helmet that is also safe.”

Maximizing the Mission

As an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer, Paraclete’s three core tenets — comfort, safety and innovation — serve as the company’s foundation. It is through Paraclete’s innovations that led to the company’s creation and application of several industry ‘firsts,’ such as the Kairos™ Retention Assembly with the adjustable Boa® Closure System, Fidlock® Magnetic Buckle, the Nephos™ Comfort Liner, the TruC™ Ear Seals, and optically clear MIL-V-43511D Paraclete NearArc® lenses.

Joshua Chan, Flight Paramedic, Life Link III, said, “The Paraclete helmet has been a great resource in my role as a flight paramedic. The design, functionality, and durability allow me to perform life-saving care wh

“Helmets need to be comfortable, but not at the expense of safety,” said Hedges. “Safety isn’t a comfort feature on a helmet; safety is a culture. The helmet is part of the crews’ uniform and must function properly to the point of comfort. “The Aspida-D helmet is lightweight and very comfortable. We especially like the magnetic helmet buckle and the helmet’s microphone. All in all, it’s also a great-looking helmet,” said Deputy George DeLuca, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit.

Check out the paracletelifesupport.com/product/aspidahelicopter-helmet/ with the DISCOUNT CODE: Comfort Helmet.

Aa committed member of Helicopter Association International [HAI], Association of Air Medical Services [AAMS], Airborne Public Safety Association [APSA], and National Business Aviation Association [NBAA], Paraclete Aviation Life Support continually provides associations with data and critical research in the spirit of a safer rotor industry for all. Paraclete Aviation Life Support is the only civilian aviation helmet manufacturer that is solely focused on the research, design, development, and manufacturing of civilian aviation helmets.

Paraclete Aviation Life Support provides worldwide service to clients in 28 different countries, including Europe, South America and Asia, and is headquartered in Clarksville, TN.

MISSION WORK

IS TOUGH.

When you’re flying a firefighting mission, you need a helmet that DIALS in the COMFORT.

The ASPIDA-D is the only DOI/USFS certified helmet to pass testing in every size.

SAFE

ASSOCIATION

For more info about Paraclete helmets visit ParacleteLifeSupport.com or contact 931.274.7947 / Sales@ParacleteLifeSupport.com.

Air Tractor Europe, Home of the Air Tractor in Europe Since 1996

It has been a difficult year for trade shows. The COVID 19 pandemic, which is still present today, changed the agenda of most events in all sectors.

Aerial Fire Fighting Expo, the biennial event usually held in Nimes, France, had to move in 2021 to Tallinn, Estonia. However, many companies did not give up and remained committed to the event.

Air Tractor Europe was one of those companies, betting on a particularly meaningful event for both exhibitors and attendees, demonstrating a sense of unity and commitment to the defense of forests and the environment in an increasingly complex wildfire landscape.

“Aerial firefighting is an immeasurable challenge. Fires are now much more intense and virulent, because of climate change. The abandonment of rural areas, as well as less control over natural sites, have made fires much more difficult to extinguish. That is why our task is more important than ever, and therefore our commitment to firefighting,” said Rafael Selma, CEO of Air Tractor Europe.

For this reason, the best resources are needed, as well as better preparation and training of the professionals involved. Air Tractor Europe is the official dealer of the American aircraft manufacturer Air Tractor Inc, since 1996. It offers its services in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The large structure of their corporate group allows them to provide comprehensive services in consulting, sales, maintenance, training, certification, and aircraft operation in more than 25 countries.

For more than 20 years, the Air Tractor AT-802F has served with distinction on the front lines of wildfires around the world. This aircraft is an efficient combination of agility, performance, and costeffectiveness. Its versatile nature enables it to operate in extraordinary situations where other firefighting aircraft would be of far less use. With a 3,100 liter (820 US gal) capacity, the water tank is appreciated in aerial firefighting circles as an easy and powerful aircraft to fly.

Whenever fire fighting contractors and government agencies see the AT-802F in action, they recognize it as a valuable asset in their fire fighting arsenal, not just for the initial attack, but also as a support for ground personnel.

Aware of the threat posed by the new and increasingly abundant 6th generation fires, as well as the need to modernize fire fighting techniques, this year, with Aerial Fire Fighting Nimes 2022, Air Tractor Europe’s commitment is even greater. The company says it is particularly excited about this year’s event. They are participating in the event alongside Wipaire, the wellknown manufacturer of floats for amphibious aircraft, under the Fire Boss logo.

“The conversion of the AT-802 to an amphibious aircraft unleashes its full potential and multiplies the AT-802F effectiveness superlatively, said Rafael. We are looking forward to sharing this event with such important firms as Wipaire and Fire Boss. Our business relationship is already very long-lasting, and these kinds of actions are a symbol of our good cooperation.” After a few critical years of upheaval due to the COVID 19 pandemic, we believe that this year is going to be a triumphant return. Like other companies in the industry, we are looking forward to a new AFFE.”

The company will be presenting the latest industry news this year, along with a new conference series and an updated version of its fire fighting guide. The guide is completely free and can be requested through the QR found on this page.

Air Tractor Europe is located at booth number 140 at the fair.

Fires are now much more intense and virulent, because of climate change.