Helicopter Fire-fighting (Merged threads)
Saw this earlier, just interested about how much benefit this could potentially bring to the fire fighting teams around the world, obviously different countries and even regions have to deal with various terrains, availability of support resources and all the other surprises thrown at you while doing a days work!
Colorado State now has a program that is just starting their second season. I went to a briefing given by Vince Wellbaum the head of their program recently. A few observations:
- Fire Fighting by helicopter is a little more complex than most realize, you cannot just get a helicopter, throw on a bucket and start dropping. There is a learning curve.
- While not "dangerous", (her indoors would never let me out of the house...lol), it does have risk associated with it, and that risk needs to be managed.
- Aircraft selection is critical, I am surprised that BC went with an aircraft that no-one else is using on fires--why re-invent the wheel?
- When starting night time operations, SLOW everything down. Colorado initially only allowed night ops on a fire that had been seen and re-conned by the pilot during the day and they had further restrictions in place.
- It is prolly best to use pumpkins or some other man made dip site initially until you are well practiced.
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Coulsons are doing some night stuff down in Australia as well. I think they have a recon ship(76? maybe) in front of a 61 dropping at night.
I still think it would be better if they let you attack the fire first thing in the morning when it isn't doing much, instead of waiting for it to get roaring in the afternoon, and then trying to put out flaming trees.....
I have noticed a bit of a change this year, with New Zealand throwing everything at a fire early and putting it out, rather than one light machine chipping away for days on end.
I still think it would be better if they let you attack the fire first thing in the morning when it isn't doing much, instead of waiting for it to get roaring in the afternoon, and then trying to put out flaming trees.....
I have noticed a bit of a change this year, with New Zealand throwing everything at a fire early and putting it out, rather than one light machine chipping away for days on end.
Could not resist-----the standard 10 Fire Orders by the USFS re-written by a bored Helitack crew.....
- Fight fire halfheartedly but wait a day or two first.
- Initiate all actions based on current and expected political climate.
- Reassure the community that everything is under control.
- Evacuate the community.
- Obfuscate the indecision which lead to the fire becoming unmanageable.
- Remain blissfully unaware of weather and local factors influencing fire behavior.
- Develop tactics that will never be implemented.
- Ensure that blame is properly placed.
- Retain resources for longer than needed.
- Stay alert for good hotels, keep calm about the third frequency changes of the week, think clearly about where to eat dinner, & act decisively (if anyone is watching).
In light of the above posts....An apparently well researched analysis in digestible form, of Australia’s Mega fire.
The Fire has been traced to single lightning strike, a helicopter responded with a team that were to be winched down but wind conditions thwarted the operation.
Nothing unusual in the response or conditions.
These catastrophic fires occur on days where flying conditions are marginal/impossible for rotary and light fixed wing.
So some Covid induced dreaming....We have developed extraordinary flying machines for war.
Could we develop one for first response all weather firefighting?
Probably unmanned and with a highly responsive thrust to counter turbulence.
Yes a $B endevour.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-...=0&pfmredir=sm
The Fire has been traced to single lightning strike, a helicopter responded with a team that were to be winched down but wind conditions thwarted the operation.
Nothing unusual in the response or conditions.
These catastrophic fires occur on days where flying conditions are marginal/impossible for rotary and light fixed wing.
So some Covid induced dreaming....We have developed extraordinary flying machines for war.
Could we develop one for first response all weather firefighting?
Probably unmanned and with a highly responsive thrust to counter turbulence.
Yes a $B endevour.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-...=0&pfmredir=sm
In light of the above posts....An apparently well researched analysis in digestible form, of Australia’s Mega fire.
The Fire has been traced to single lightning strike, a helicopter responded with a team that were to be winched down but wind conditions thwarted the operation.
Nothing unusual in the response or conditions.
These catastrophic fires occur on days where flying conditions are marginal/impossible for rotary and light fixed wing.
So some Covid induced dreaming....We have developed extraordinary flying machines for war.
Could we develop one for first response all weather firefighting?
Probably unmanned and with a highly responsive thrust to counter turbulence.
Yes a $B endevour.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-...=0&pfmredir=sm
The Fire has been traced to single lightning strike, a helicopter responded with a team that were to be winched down but wind conditions thwarted the operation.
Nothing unusual in the response or conditions.
These catastrophic fires occur on days where flying conditions are marginal/impossible for rotary and light fixed wing.
So some Covid induced dreaming....We have developed extraordinary flying machines for war.
Could we develop one for first response all weather firefighting?
Probably unmanned and with a highly responsive thrust to counter turbulence.
Yes a $B endevour.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-...=0&pfmredir=sm
about 20 years ago, in a shed in SE LA, a guy had a 6 engine 4 seater running, now would be called a sexcopter I guess. He had lots of spare thrust and was envisaging payloads over 1000kg, which would be at the edge of interest as a drone dropship. There is some regulatory constraints, but nothing to get sideways on. There is no technological constraint in doing attack that way, it is purely political will. If the bedstead with a ton of slurry is not flying over people, and that should be a low bar to hurdle, then the risk is lower than is faced by y'all in the choppers. managing the CG during drop is about the only interesting control design. Continuous operations would take a fair bit of manpower and remote pilot is probably desirable for safety and target changes. you can buy baby ones of that Alibaba, for 20kg liquid, to put out cuban cigars.