Helicopter Fire-fighting (Merged threads)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1 Dunghill Mansions, Putney
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Meanwhile, China goes for the Michael Bay approach to firefighting...
Missiles could help firefighters put out high-rise blazes
I/C
Missiles could help firefighters put out high-rise blazes
I/C
Blue Mountain Mayor says: Buy Skycranes
Time to buy air-crane helicopters: Blue Mountains mayor
Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill said the Skycranes had been ''a godsend'' in last month's bushfire crisis, when 200 homes were destroyed and has said ''we ought to own a sufficient amount to meet what seems to be an increasing threat.''
Fairfax Media understands it costs $1.5 million to hire one Skycrane for 12 weeks. The cost of buying one new is estimated at $30 million to $40 million.
Fairfax Media understands it costs $1.5 million to hire one Skycrane for 12 weeks. The cost of buying one new is estimated at $30 million to $40 million.
Update on previous post....Lets all talk to the fire gods and ask for a slow day on July 18th...
New trailer....watch it full screen, sound up:
See it Here
New trailer....watch it full screen, sound up:
See it Here
CNN has picked up the story on the burnover save during the King Fire earlier this year.
You can watch the full story on CNN @ 9PM EST/PST Tuesday 16th.
Preview Here
You can watch the full story on CNN @ 9PM EST/PST Tuesday 16th.
Preview Here
Shoulder harness - Optional?
(b) Each required flight crewmember of a U.S.-registered civil aircraft shall, during takeoff and landing, keep his or her shoulder harness fastened while at his or her assigned duty station. This paragraph does not apply if--
(1) The seat at the crewmember's station is not equipped with a shoulder harness; or
(2) The crewmember would be unable to perform required duties with the shoulder harness fastened.
(1) The seat at the crewmember's station is not equipped with a shoulder harness; or
(2) The crewmember would be unable to perform required duties with the shoulder harness fastened.
Then surely provision (2) would apply
Anyway, this is not about legalities, but about some guys on the ground who are just as important as us in the air, the "team" came together this day and it ended well for once.
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Figured I would post a few pics of my adventures in the last 5 weeks.... (Just got home for few days off):
The Lowell Fire outside of Lake Tahoe, one of my Hueys doing a spot drop:
All coming back to base for the night---we had 15 helicopters on this fire ranging from a Jet Ranger all the way upto a Crane and EVERYthing in between:
Clearly NOT tomato plants:
They do give us good lunche sacks though:
This was on the Frog Fire on the Modoc National Forest. One firefighter died fighting this one, (RIP Dave Ruhl), You can see a tanker about to drop here:
I then went to the Gasquet Complex in the Redwood National Forest System:
Here is why California is having so many problems---you can see the effecct of the drought here:
The Lowell Fire outside of Lake Tahoe, one of my Hueys doing a spot drop:
All coming back to base for the night---we had 15 helicopters on this fire ranging from a Jet Ranger all the way upto a Crane and EVERYthing in between:
Clearly NOT tomato plants:
They do give us good lunche sacks though:
This was on the Frog Fire on the Modoc National Forest. One firefighter died fighting this one, (RIP Dave Ruhl), You can see a tanker about to drop here:
I then went to the Gasquet Complex in the Redwood National Forest System:
Here is why California is having so many problems---you can see the effecct of the drought here:
And I just left Washington State and the Carpenter Road Fire:
Carpenter Road Fire Info
Flying out from Helibase in tandem... Spot the Drone.... (There is none that I know of, but could you tell 100%?)
Inbound to my dip site:
Headed for the drop....spots everywhere:
Off the drop---I know there is an escape route here somewhere:
Headed back to main base in the evening---the whole of the State is blanketed in smoke reducing visibility....I-pads help:
Carpenter Road Fire Info
Flying out from Helibase in tandem... Spot the Drone.... (There is none that I know of, but could you tell 100%?)
Inbound to my dip site:
Headed for the drop....spots everywhere:
Off the drop---I know there is an escape route here somewhere:
Headed back to main base in the evening---the whole of the State is blanketed in smoke reducing visibility....I-pads help:
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Not to be outdone by China, Boeing proposes 'fire mission' using 155mm howitzers, claiming such barrages will be "more efficient and flexible than dropping the retardant from airplanes or helicopters":
Boeing suggests new weapon in fighting wildfires
I/C
Boeing suggests new weapon in fighting wildfires
I/C
Maneuvering artillery pieces to get a shot at such areas would not be easy, either, he speculated
This whole concept is laughable. Do they realize how many of these it would take on a 1,000 acre fire. Besides, we basically line the fire and let the middle burn out.
I'm not sure that the entire concept is ridiculous, but would have certainly want to witness it in action to see if there is any meaningful effect. I've seen plenty of fires where the helicopter and fixed wing resources were pretty ineffective and almost irrelevant (to say the least) against massive fire complexes, where they could only offer limited resistance to an overwhelming onslaught of fire. We've all also seen plenty of times when there is no flying due to smoke, wind or other factors.
Twenty years ago, everyone laughed at the concept of fixed wing jets in the fire-fighting market and just look where we are today. Fire-fighting resources require a complete toolbox of tricks and resources, and I'm not sure that this one is without potential merit. It's been the staple resource of the oilfield firefighting business for decades.
Scientists test explosion method that could see wildfires stopped in their tracks | Daily Mail Online
Twenty years ago, everyone laughed at the concept of fixed wing jets in the fire-fighting market and just look where we are today. Fire-fighting resources require a complete toolbox of tricks and resources, and I'm not sure that this one is without potential merit. It's been the staple resource of the oilfield firefighting business for decades.
Scientists test explosion method that could see wildfires stopped in their tracks | Daily Mail Online