Firefighting | Aviation International News

Firefighting

Helitanker operators may have thought they would profit after the U.S.

By Kim Rosenlof

January 31, 2007

Helitanker operators may have thought they would profit after the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Department of the Interior (DOI) terminated contracts for 33 fixed-wing large airtankers due to airworthiness concerns last May, but a quiet fire season and a decrease in profitable call-when-needed deployments mitigated the potential windfall. Although some rotary-wing assets journeyed to Alaska to assist in the riotous fire season there, most helicopter firefighting operators experienced a relatively slow year that resulted in lower revenues.

The USFS stunned the forest firefighting industry when it announced the cancellation of several large airtanker contracts following the April 23, 2004, release of an NTSB report regarding three airtanker accidents, two involving Lockheed C-130A Hercules airtankers and one involving a Consolidated Vultee P4Y Privateer.
All three airplanes suffered in-flight wing separations resulting from fatigue.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

DTA Logs 30 Reservations for JP1 Hybrid Multicopter

Crewed flight tests are slated to begin in 2027

DTA Aircraft JP1 eVTOL in hangar

DTA Pitches Two-seat Hybrid eVTOL

French gyroplane maker brings its JP1 multicopter to NBAA-BACE

DTA's two-seat JP1 hybrid eVTOL flies at dusk during uncrewed flight testing in France.

Aero Friedrichshafen Gives Helicopters More Lift in 2027

Expanded helicopter presence spans executive and general aviation

Bell helicopter on static display in exhibition hall

Aviation Wins with Reversal of Indy Heliport Closure

Plans called for selling the 5.36-acre property to the city of Indianapolis

VAI's Cade Clark and Katia Veraza

Romania Orders 12 SAFE-backed H225M Helicopters

Initial fleet renewal could precede additional 30 domestically assembled units

Two H225Ms in flight

Falcon Executive Cleared for Flights at Dubai Helipark

Facility at Al Maktoum International Airport will complement the group’s FBO

Dubai Helipark

Aero Asset: Twin-engine Helicopter Sales Activity Up

Pricing on heavy twins reached a five-year high in the first half

Sikorsky S-92 in flight

Louisiana Rotor Pathway Advances Rotorcraft Careers

Program started with Utah and North Dakota

Airbus Helicopters H215 Super Puma helicopter