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AIRBUS SUCCESSFULLY TESTS FIREFIGHTING KIT ON A400M
Airbus announced on July 26th, 2022, that the company has successfully tested a removable firefighting demonstrator kit on the A400M new generation airlifter during a flight test campaign in Spain.
The test campaign took place in daylight conditions with a minimum operating height of 150ft, flight speeds as low as 125 knots, and drops involving up to 20 tonnes of water from the current tank in less than 10 seconds. The main objective of the campaign is to validate the drop water quantity and time, as well as the ability of the A400M to carry out this new role with the kit.
The development of this prototype and the tests have been carried out in close collaboration with the 43rd Group of the Spanish Air Force, as well as European authorities in Firefighting operations and the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO).
“The development of this firefighting kit is an intrinsic part of our journey towards helping to create a more sustainable and safer world, not only by our actions but also through our products. We strongly believe the A400M can play a vital role in the fight against the ever-increasing threat posed by wildfires and support the restoration of social and environmental systems,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.
The Airbus firefighting solution created for the A400M is a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) kit that requires no modification to the aircraft and therefore is interchangeable with any aircraft in the A400M fleet. The water is stored in a fixed tank in the cargo hold and retained by two independent doors. These doors are connected to two flood pipes, so when the discharge is triggered, the water is expelled through two sections at the end of the ramp. The introduction of this RORO solution allows a rapid reaction to unforeseen fires and reconfiguration of the aircraft to any of its other roles.
Due to its low-level flight capability and maneuverability at low speeds, the A400M can accurately drop payloads of water at very low heights, down to 150ft. In the future, in addition to the development of the production version of this kit, Airbus will analyze this operation also in nighttime conditions, reinforcing the efficiency and effectiveness of the mission.
AerialFire serves the entire aerial firefighting industry reaching operators, pilots and tanker bases worldwide, including North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa and South America.
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TracPlus AFDAU-T1 Achieves US Forest Service ATU Compliance
The AFDAU-T1, Australia’s standout additional telemetry unit (ATU) for aerial firefighting, achieved compliance with the new US Forest Service requirements for event data announced on June 14th, 2022. The update enables all Aerial Firefighting Data Acquisition Unit (AFDAU) units already installed in aircraft to meet compliance specifications
AFDAU-T1 lead engineer, Zane Vohland, says that with the increase in demand for real-time telemetry in contracts issued by aerial firefighting agencies, the AFDAU-T1’s new compliance is a huge win for operators in the United States.
“It’s clear that ATU requirements are becoming more prevalent in US aerial firefighting contracts. As these requirements make their way from VLATs and type 1 helicopters into smaller aircraft, we see orders from operators looking for a turnkey solution that enables them to stay compliant.”
Zane adds that when investing in ATU equipment, operators can compare apples to oranges and need to ensure the equipment they are considering provides a full solution.
“Some signs of an incomplete solution include extensive calibration of the ATU device required for volume detection, lack of clear and comprehensive documentation on how to interface with the various sensors required, lack of validated end-to-end data pipeline from hardware to agency portal, and a lack of proven results, including accurate volume reporting, for the applicable airframe and sensor configuration.
In addition to this, Zane says that despite years of development, many ATU devices still face the same issues of how a device detects and records particular events.
“Due to the dynamic nature of firefighting operations, it’s not unusual to see errors in the types of event data coming off ATUs. These typically occur on take-off and landing events, engine on and off events, and inaccurate recordings for fill, drop, and volume events. unparalleled fidelity. Through extensive R&D and close partnerships with some of Australia’s key fixed-wing and helicopter firefighting operators, we have developed a large and comprehensive dataset of aerial firefighting operations and expanded our expertise in the field to deliver in the AFDAU-T1,” says Zane.
In addition to the US Forest Service compliance, Airborne Mission Systems, the makers of the AFDAU, has also developed a diagnostic tool that allows avionics engineers to quickly identify and rectify any communication issues (wiring, connections, etc.) between another device and the AFDAU at the point of install. This has the potential to save thousands of dollars of time both on the ground and in the air trying to troubleshoot installation issues.
GPMS Announces Major Expansion of Certified Installer Network
GPMS announced on August 11, 2022 that the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) has granted a Supplemental Type Certificate for Foresight MX. The certificate was based on a prior Federal Aviation Administration STC and covers the installation of Foresight MX on the Airbus H125/AS350 B3 platform. Helisul Aviation assisted in the certification and is the first Brazilian customer to implement Foresight’s advanced HUMS capabilities.
“We are excited to have worked with a great partner like Helisul to achieve this certification,” said Todd Powers, GPMS VP and Head of Sales. “Thanks to their help, H125 operators in Brazil can now install and utilize Foresight’s comprehensive and predictive HUMS capabilities.”
Luis Cravo, Helisul Technical Director, explained that this was an important project for the company. “We were able to work very closely with the GPMS team during the STC process and learned a lot about the capabilities of the Foresight system. With its comprehensive monitoring and predictive capabilities, Foresight will be able to provide valuable insight into the performance and health of our aircraft.”
Powers noted that this certification is an important achievement for GPMS in South America. “Brazil has a large number of H125/AS350 operators, and this STC is a great first step to bringing our advanced Foresight HUMS system to operators in Brazil and throughout South America.”
“The H125 is a workhorse in our fleet and performs a variety of missions. Using Foresight on this platform is seen as an investment because it will help us increase availability, lower maintenance costs, and improve these aircraft’s operational safety,” declared Cravo.
While the H125 is one of South America’s more popular helicopter platforms, many operators like Helisul have mixed fleets. Foresight is already certified on most of the popular helicopter platforms in North America, and Powers said GPMS expects similar certification and sales success throughout South America. today in the United States,” he said. “As we continue to expand our global footprint, we will work with customers and aviation authorities to expand our list of Foresight STCs to meet the growing demand.”
To support the demand for Foresight in North and South America, GPMS recently announced the expansion of their Certified Installer Network to fifteen full-service helicopter MRO and completion centers to help ensure customer success.
Paraclete Aviation Life Support announced the opening of the company's new office location on July 8th, 2022, increasing its square footage by 84% to accommodate the helmet manufacturer's increasing demand for its DOI-USFS certified helmet product line of its research-based Aegis and Aspida helmets as the company increases its presence into diverse segments of civilian and military markets --- air ambulance/HEMS, agriculture, law enforcement, wildland firefighting, and federal and state agencies --- as well as expanding its distributor connections throughout the world, with the company's recent decision to secure a distributor in Germany, Commercial Helicopter Services.
Paraclete further strengthens its global presence in the rotor- and fixed-wing helmet market, extending the company’s international footprint with the recent expansions into South Korea, Brazil, and Australia, as well as its continued relationships in Europe, South America, and Asia. Emerging as a global provider of civilian aviation helmets, Paraclete continues to build strategic partnerships in 30 countries throughout the world in commercial and military markets since its launch in 2014.
"Our entire mission is designing aviation helmets with innovation, technology, and modern composites for the purpose of protection and comfort," said Paraclete President and Founder Scott Hedges. “The decision of which rotor helmet to wear is based on comfort, innovation and safety, the three pillars that drive Paraclete’s product designs, culminating in the company’s Aegis and Aspida helmets."
“In response to the increased demand, the additional square footage will strengthen our workflow production and efficiency and represents an opportunity to extend our corporate structure to enhance the workplace environment for employees who now enjoy a few 'comfort' features,” said Hedges. Paraclete is located in one of the fastest-growing cities in the state of Tennessee which reflects the marked business growth, including Paraclete's expanding operations.
DOI-USFS Certified Helmets
Paraclete Aviation Life Support secured certifications for all three of its product line of helicopter helmet models: the Aegis D Type 1, the Aspida D Type 1, and the AspidaCarbon-D, as set forth by the Department of Interior and the United States Forest Service Aviation Helmets Standard.
Paraclete provides worldwide service to clients in 30 different countries, including Europe, South America, and Asia. Expanding the company's commitment to high-quality aviation safety standards, Paraclete is the only helmet manufacturer in which all helmets, in every size, are certified to the DOI-USFS Aviation Helmets Standard; Paraclete is also an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer that provides Aviation Life Support Equipment education and training services. As a committed member of Helicopter Association International, Association of Air Medical Services, Airborne Public Safety Association, and the National Business Aviation Association, Paraclete continually provides associations with data and critical research in the spirit of a safer rotor industry for all.
Paraclete’s product development is directed by research and innovation solutions as the only independent Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory.
A generous donation from The South Lake Fire Sirens Auxiliary Group has allowed South Lake County Fire Protection District to order two new generation portable dip tanks known as HeloPod’s. The HeloPod is a groundbreaking product manufactured in Simi Valley, California, designed and built as a mobile Helicopter Dip Tank and Cistern for large helicopters. This game- changing tool helps get a water dip site set up quickly during an incident. With the quick set-up, firefighters will only need to connect the hoses to the hydrant, then helicopters are ready to start pulling water from it, while still hovering, greatly reducing turnaround times.
South Lake County Fire joins San Diego County Fire and Riverside County Fire deploying these HeloPod’s in their areas. Other departments include but are not limited to Los Angeles County Fire, Santa Barbara County Fire, and Orange County Fire. Soon to follow is another leader in northern California - the Northern Sonoma County Fire District. With the new CAL FIREHAWK, while much more fire capable, water sources can be more challenging to find. The HeloPod builds on the broader goal for the South Lake Fire Protection District to improve our community's fire readiness and capabilities. This first started with "Operation Force Multiplier." A region-first program that has put firefighting tools and extinguishers in the hands of our residents. The second was the purchase of Engine 6061, South Lake County Fire's new Type 6 Wildland Firefighting Engine. Engine 6061 is smaller, lighter, faster, and more capable for off-road use. Regarding the HeloPod, Assistant Fire Chief Paul Duncan has said, "Our Team here at South Lake County Fire has been researching this new type of resource for a few years. When the opportunity presented itself, our research was already done. And with a special thanks to the South Lake Fire Sirens, we were able to do the right thing, increasing the safety of our communities."
Two HeloPods will be delivered on August 18, 2022. One will be placed within the Middletown Area, and the other in the Cobb area. South Lake County Fire is collaborating with the Cobb Water District and the Callayomi County Water District to supply water to the tanks and local property owners for the locations to place them. These locations have been chosen for the first locations to help spread water availability throughout the fire district. Our Hidden Valley area already has the community Lake as a water source. Carol Olsen, who runs the Thrift Shop for the Fire Sirens, said, "It is our group's passion and drive to support our Firefighters. We are just thrilled to be able to fund this critical purchase to support the communities in our Fire District".
South Lake Fire Protection District as well as the CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit is excited to have these game changing tools located within our responsibility areas. For more information about the HeloPods visit the following links provided by PumpPodUSA below, or please feel free to contact South Lake County Fire Protection District.
The HeloPod is made by PumpPod USA and is now active in several counties around Southern California.
