Private helicopter charter for aerial fire fighting

[eivissa]

Situation:
Several big houses threatened at Ibiza by the forest fires. Countless helicopters and planes already there, but the situation is not yet under control.
Now these house owners ask me if there is a way to charter a helicopter (B407, AS350...) with a Bambi Bucket (or similar system) to protect their house. X0.000€ for the helicopter feels next to nothing for them, compared to loosing their X.000.000€ houses!

Question:
I this legal under JAA, national (Spanish) law? Ive always had the idea it is considered aerial work. Also JAR-OPS3 isnt giving me a clue either...

Dont get me wrong. I am quite sure the state-paid helicopter and fixed wing pilots are doing their best. Still, if well coordinated with the other air traffic, the more, the better!?

[Gordy]

eivissa:

I cannot help you with the legalities of such actions with respect to JAA or Spanish law.

What I can do is offer my perspective as a fire pilot, albeit on the left side of the big pond. This issue comes up frequently in California, and here are my thoughts/comments in no particular order:

1. The aircraft would need to be co-ordinated with the "official" effort.
2. Helicopters are generally used to support other efforts---unless it is purely a grass fire then water drops alone will not save property.
3. The pilots of the helicopters need to have an understanding of fire, and fire suppression techniques.
4. What happens if the they hire helicopters and the homes still burn up.
5. Some homes cannot be saved due various factors--defensible space being the primary factor.
6. More helicopters is not necessarily better.

In reality the best way for them to protect their homes would be to get "firewise"...there is lots of information here:

About Firewise (http://www.firewise.org/)

[Gordy]

Another product they may wish to consider for around $2,200 is this:

Home Defense Unit--4000 PSI, FireIce® (http://www.firecache.com/prodinfo.asp?number=85.7495)

FireIce® is a state of the art, water enhancing, fire suppressant and structure protectant. It is currently being utilized by firefighters, first responders, and military personnel both domestically and internationally.

When mixed with water, FireIce® is highly effective as a medium-term fire retardant for structure protection. FireIce® was designed to aid the fire service to significantly reduce the loss of life and property. The next progression was to develop a solution for the homeowner.

During times of crisis, fire departments cannot offer protection for every homeowner as resources become extremely limited. The FireIce® HDU™ was created to give the homeowner an additional line of defense that enables them to save their home and personal property from the threat of an advancing fire. This larger more powerful unit (4000 PSI / 4 Gallons Per Minute) is ideal for homeowners with homes larger than 5,000 sq. feet.

Powerful 4 HP Honda GVC 160 Gasoline Engine
Capable of producing 4,000 PSI at a rate of 4 gallons per minute
Ergonomic Handle
Patent Pending Eductor System produces in-line mixture of water and FireIce® for quick application
Easily converts from a structure protection device to a pressure washer
Cleans up with pure water
No messy residue
Runoff will help hydrate the soil profile for several weeks
Included with this FireIce® HDU™ are 4 buckets of FireIce®. Each bucket will provide 1,250 sq. ft. of coverage. Additional buckets of FireIce® may be purchased as needed.
FireIce® adheres to many different types of structures including Wood, Stucco, and Brick
FireIce® adds lasting protection to your shrubs, trees and surrounding landscape
FireIce® is environmentally friendly and non-toxic
FireIce® is easy to clean up. No pressure cleaning or harsh chemicals are needed to remove FireIce®, the only thing needed is a garden hose.

[birrddog]

Gordy, interesting product.

Do you have any experience with those whole house fire blankets?

IIRC it is a system you install on the roof, and at the press of a button covers the house in a fire resistant fabric, preventing fire and smoke damage.

[Gordy]

Birrddog:

Do you have any experience with those whole house fire blankets?

I have not seen the blanket system you mentioned. I have used standard "wrap" to protect buildings. Basically, given enough time, we go in and wrap buildings with a protective cover...we will also set up a sprinkler system using "pumpkins", (portable pools), and suction pumps from streams. Here are some pics from a wrap we did in the wilderness in Northern Idaho back in 07 at the Monument Ranch. We had to fly in EVERYTHING---this was a three day operation:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/LaFonda/m34.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/LaFonda/m33.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/LaFonda/m32.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/LaFonda/m29.jpg

The best way to protect your home is by utilizing "Defensible Space"---this is a home in the middle of the San Diego fires a few years back.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/LaFonda/7161440a.jpg

I did hear of a system being developed after the San Diego fires where a sprinkler system is built into, and onto the home utilizing the water from your swimming pool. It would be hooked up to a retardant chemical reservoir and right as you walk out the door to evacuate, you would hit the switch. Your house would be covered in retardant.....nasty to clean up, but better than the alternative.

[birrddog]

The system I am thinking about I read in either PopSci or Popular Mechanics.

Giggling about the closet I found was this company (http://www.fireprotection.name/index.html)

They are in "development stage" and it does not show or articulate as the original article I saw 2 years ago.

Though not relevant to the OP's question. [/Thread Drift Off]

[xtremalsound]

Hello dude,

The first steep to work in Spain for fires is agroforestal rating it's a Spanish Jaa rating for firefighting operations...

You must have to do it before to work it

Regards

[eivissa]

Thanks for all the input guys! I know about the agroforestal, but I have never considered doing it myself. What I was actually thinking is hire one of the companies that are on the fires anyway. They might have a spare machine and pilots with the required experience.

For the it looks like the situation is under control and we have all been very lucky that none of our friends houses have been damaged.