Helicopters and Air Tankers Flashcards
7 ways Helicopters improve fire control
1: direct and rapid transport of firefighters
2: provide aerial view of the fire for initial assessment and mapping
3: wet down hot spots using buckets or belly tanks
4: to transport equipment
5: aerial backfiring ops
6: service fire lookouts and fire camps
7: emergency back country rescues
5 ways Air Tankers improve fire control
1: initial action on new fires
2: to hold a fir in the first burning period
3: to secure fire control line early in the morning
4: to protect high value facilities
5: reinforce controls lines for back firing ops
How is lift created?
Higher air speed over to top of the wing creates a low pressure above and high pressure below the wing, creating lift.
Light Helicopters
Ex: Bell 206B, A-star, Gazelle, Hughes 500C, Hughes 500D
- up to 6,000 lbs gross weight
- up to 1,500 lbs external lift
- 1-7 passengers
Medium Helicopters
Ex: Bell 204, Bell 205, Bell 212, Sikorsky S-58T
- 6,000 to 12,500 gross weight
- up to 5,000 lbs external weight
- 8-16 passengers
Heavy Helicopters
Ex: Sikorsky S-61, Sikorsky S-64E, Sikorsky S-64F
- over 12,500 lbs gross weight
- 6,000 lbs or more external lift
- 17 or more passengers
4 Types of Air Tankers
Douglas B - 26 Invader (ground)
Douglas DC - 6B (ground)
Canadair CL-215 (water skimmer)
Grumman “Firecat” (ground)
Douglas B-26
Retardant Capacity: 830 gal
2 doors
Douglas DC-6B
Retardent Capacity: 250 gal
Canadair CL-215
Retardent Capacity: 1,000 gal
2 doors
Grumman “Firecat”
Retardent Capacity: 1,000 gal
(L) Bell 206B Jet Ranger
External: 1,200 lbs
(I) Bell 206 Long Ranger
External: 1,500 lbs
(L) Hughes 500D
External: 1,500 lbs
(L) Hughes 500C
External: 1,200 lbs
(L) Aerospatiale AS 341E - Gazelle
External: 1,000 lbs
(L) Aerospatiale AS 350 D - Astar
External: 1,550 lbs
(M) Bell 204B
External: 4,000 lbs
(M) Bell 205A
External: 4,500 lbs
(M) Bell 212 Twin
External: 5,000 lbs
(M) Sikorsky S-58T
External: 4,500 lbs
(H) Sikorsky S-61
External: 8,000 lbs
(H) Sikorsky S-64E & 64F
External: 20,000 lbs
Helicopter Performance
Take-off and Landing-always into the wind
Winds- create lift bus also turbulence (>30kph)
Ground Effect- a zone of enhanced helicopter performance within 1/2 rotor diameter of the ground
Visibility affected by- smoke, fog, precipitation, light
Density Altitude- corrected altitude for a given pressure and humidity (cooler days- maximum pitch, warmer days-minimum pitch)
Weight, distribution of load-“balance”
Helicopter Safety
do nut run-be calm and alert
approach and depart in view of the pilot
crouch down to avoid rotor disc
don’t approach from an upslope position
Carry objects below your waist
do not cross under the tail boom
keep landing area clear of loose debris
ensure doors are properly closed and put on your seat belt
Intermediate Helicopters
Example: Bell 206L
4 to 7 passengers
up too 1500 lbs lift
Helicopter Landing Sites
use natural openings where possible
clearing minimum- 2x main rotor disc diameter
approach, land, and depart into the wind
level and stable touchdown pad
3 reason we use air tankers?
- action new fires
- action new fires in the 2nd burning period
- support action for ongoing fires
A.T. operations
take priority over all over ops
Air Attack Officer - coordinates all air traffic and drops from BD plane
Bird Dog Plane - an experienced air tanker pilot the flies the drop routes and guides tankers into the drop zone
Factors that affect performance
Weather (wind, temp)
visibility (smoke cover etc)
terrain (flight path for drop)
Fire Retardant
any substance that inhibits combustion through physical or chemical means
ie, water, foam (short term), clay phosphorus and red dye (long term)
types of drops
Full Salvo - all doors open at once (heavy fuel canopy)
Half Load - half doors open (2 passes, moderate fuel canopy)
String Drop - doors open in succession (finer fuels)
Dog Bird Signals
yelping siren - drops coming, leave area
sharp pull up - where drops will start
wailing siren - drops finished, safe
circling - spot fire outside of main fireline
what if you’re caught in the drop zone?
don’t panic or run
place hand tools away and line down facing plane
stay put until last drop made
watch footing
Martin Mars
7,200 gal load
60,000 load capacity
22 bottom drop doors
4 side drop doors
Electra
2,000 gal
8-10 doors
Boeing 747
20,000 gal
4 nozzles
multiple targets
