Associated Press
• Rebecca Boone
Two pilots died September 20 when Fly Precision’s Eurocopter AS332L1 crashed while conducting water drops on the 3,000-acre Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park, California. The accident highlights the operational risks facing aerial firefighting crews during wildfire response missions.
Aerial Firefighting
Latest source-backed stories
High activity
Two pilots died September 20 when Fly Precision’s Eurocopter AS332L1 crashed while conducting water drops on the 3,000-acre Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park, California. The accident highlights the operational risks facing aerial firefighting crews during wildfire response missions.
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.
Avincis plans to acquire five Bell 214ST medium-twin helicopters from Australian type certificate holder McDermott Aviation, expanding the aerial services provider’s firefighting fleet. The deal adds additional heavy-lift rotorcraft capacity for wildfire response operations.
Coulson Aviation is moving forward with EmberWorks, an innovation division focused on addressing the operational challenges of aerial firefighting. The initiative is developing solutions tailored to emergency response needs, underscoring the company’s emphasis on innovation in wildfire suppression operations.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is positioning its Wildfire unmanned aircraft for the program to replace the MQ-9 Reaper, linking the company’s next-generation drone offering to a major U.S. military aircraft procurement effort.
Avincis is partnering with McDermott Aviation to acquire five 214ST helicopters, expanding its capabilities in aerial firefighting and utility operations. The deal adds dedicated heavy-lift rotorcraft capacity to Avincis’ emergency-response and specialized aviation activities.
Japan has sent three CH-47 helicopters aboard the JS Kunisaki to West Kalimantan, Indonesia, for its first overseas Self-Defense Forces wildfire-fighting mission. The deployment supports bilateral humanitarian assistance as fires on Borneo produce toxic haze across neighboring Southeast Asian countries, while Malaysian authorities pursue cloud seeding.
Create a free account to see more recent Aerial Firefighting stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
