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• Oliver Johnson
Airbus has launched an operator group for H225 helicopters used in firefighting, creating a forum intended to help guide the aircraft’s future development. The announcement signals a focus on incorporating operator input into the platform’s evolution for aerial firefighting missions.
Aerial Firefighting
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Airbus has launched an operator group for H225 helicopters used in firefighting, creating a forum intended to help guide the aircraft’s future development. The announcement signals a focus on incorporating operator input into the platform’s evolution for aerial firefighting missions.
Canada and the European Union are preparing to announce a joint purchase of 50 De Havilland water bombers, with aircraft intended for use in both regions from 2030. The plan would establish a shared procurement approach for aerial firefighting capacity across Canada and Europe.
Australia’s transport safety bureau says risk conditions were not properly captured before a Bell 412 firefighting helicopter entered an uncommanded descent while filling its bucket. The finding comes in the ATSB’s final investigation report, which examines the circumstances surrounding the event.
Antin Infrastructure Partners has acquired a majority stake in High Performance Helicopters, expanding its infrastructure portfolio into helicopter services. HP Helicopters supports utility infrastructure operations and aerial firefighting, although the parties did not disclose the transaction value.
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Game Aerospace’s GB2 completed its maiden flight in Bentonville, Arkansas, on Sept. 23, 2026, launching flight testing for a purpose-built, single-engine airtanker. The aircraft is designed to carry up to 1,200 gallons of water or fire retardant for aerial firefighting operations.
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A Fly Precision Eurocopter AS332L1 crashed Sept. 20 while conducting water drops on Yosemite National Park’s 3,000-acre Dome Fire, killing both crewmembers. The incident highlights the operational risks facing rotary-wing crews supporting wildfire suppression in complex terrain and demanding conditions.
Japan is expanding its first overseas military firefighting mission by splitting its Chinook fleet between the landing ship JS Kunisaki and a port in Indonesia. The deployment will support firefighting operations off Kalimantan while extending Japan’s regional disaster-response footprint.
The FAA has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking public input on transporting firefighters aboard restricted-category aircraft, more than two years after Congress directed the agency to address the issue. The process could shape operating requirements for aerial firefighting organizations and the aircraft they use.
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