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ATSB interim report: Bell 412 substantially damaged during water‑bucketing firefighting operation

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has published an interim report describing an incident in which a Bell 412 helicopter was substantially damaged while performing water‑bucketing during a firefighting operation. The report documents the sequence of events and forms part of an ongoing ATSB safety investigation.

2026-03-17T05:39:11.564907-07:00

FlightGlobal

De Havilland begins major structural assembly of first DHC-515 water bomber

2026-03-10T16:20:24.820833-07:00

AINonline

GPMS Foresight MX HUMS adopted for Bell 412; Bell 505 launch announced as Helicopter Express first to upgrade from BHVM

2026-03-08T21:32:51.400818-07:00

FlightGlobal

Alberta commits C$400M for five De Havilland DHC‑515 water bombers; deliveries from 2031

2026-02-18T09:53:23.272569-08:00

News Timeline

Vertical Mag

ATSB interim report: Bell 412 substantially damaged during water‑bucketing firefighting operation The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has published an interim report describing an incident in which a Bell 412 helicopter was substantially damaged while performing water‑bucketing during a firefighting operation. The report documents the sequence of events and forms part of an ongoing ATSB safety investigation.

2026-03-17T05:39:11.564907-07:00

ATSB interim report: Bell 412 substantially damaged during water‑bucketing firefighting operation

FlightGlobal

Helicopter Alliance forecasts demand for 20–40 refurbished UH‑60 Black Hawks in Europe by 2030 for firefighting Czech Republic-based Helicopter Alliance projects Europe will need 20–40 refurbished Sikorsky UH‑60 Black Hawks by 2030 to bolster civil firefighting and disaster‑relief capacity as wildfire risk rises. The forecast targets conversion of surplus military Black Hawks for wet/dry‑bucket and utility missions.

2026-03-13T05:39:24.719060-07:00

Helicopter Alliance forecasts demand for 20–40 refurbished UH‑60 Black Hawks in Europe by 2030 for firefighting

FlightGlobal

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De Havilland begins major structural assembly of first DHC-515 water bomber De Havilland Aircraft of Canada has joined the cockpit and hull sections of its first DHC-515 and completed wing‑box assembly at its Canadian production line, advancing the amphibious turboprop water bomber toward planned deliveries to European customers and Canada in 2028.

2026-03-10T16:20:24.820833-07:00

De Havilland begins major structural assembly of first DHC-515 water bomber

AINonline

GPMS Foresight MX HUMS adopted for Bell 412; Bell 505 launch announced as Helicopter Express first to upgrade from BHVM Helicopter Express is the first operator to upgrade from Bell's BHVM to GPMS Foresight MX HUMS on a Bell 412 EPX under a BHVM-to-GPMS upgrade programme developed with Bell. GPMS and Bell also announced Foresight MX availability for the Bell 505, bringing predictive maintenance and operational intelligence.

2026-03-08T21:32:51.400818-07:00

GPMS Foresight MX HUMS adopted for Bell 412; Bell 505 launch announced as Helicopter Express first to upgrade from BHVM

Vertical Mag

Ace Aeronautics repurposes surplus UH-60 Black Hawks for firefighting and rescue Ace Aeronautics is refurbishing surplus UH‑60 Black Hawks and preparing them for firefighting, rescue and disaster‑response missions, repurposing military airframes into civil public‑service helicopters. The effort creates an aftermarket route for surplus Black Hawks and readies platforms for emergency operations.

2026-03-06T08:52:37.290876-08:00

Ace Aeronautics repurposes surplus UH-60 Black Hawks for firefighting and rescue

Airways Magazine

Aviation in Crisis: Airlift, Firefighting, Security and Humanitarian Missions Aviation plays a central role in crises, security operations and humanitarian relief, providing airlift, medevac, aerial firefighting, and logistics support at short notice. Those missions require rapid coordination between carriers, airports, air traffic control and regulators, reassigning aircraft and crews and often disrupting scheduled services and supply chains.

2026-02-19T14:06:23.258313-08:00

Aviation in Crisis: Airlift, Firefighting, Security and Humanitarian Missions

FlightGlobal

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Alberta commits C$400M for five De Havilland DHC‑515 water bombers; deliveries from 2031 The Alberta government has committed C$400 million to buy five De Havilland DHC‑515 water‑bomber aircraft — a deal that will more than double its government-owned tanker fleet. De Havilland Canada will build the CL‑515s at its Calgary plant, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2031.

2026-02-18T09:53:23.272569-08:00

Alberta commits C$400M for five De Havilland DHC‑515 water bombers; deliveries from 2031

SpaceWatch Global

OroraTech’s dual-use wildfire-monitoring satellites — interview with co‑founder Thomas Grübler at MSC 2026 At MSC 2026, Torsten Kriening sat down with OroraTech co‑founder Thomas Grübler for an up‑close look at the company's dual‑use wildfire‑monitoring satellites. The interview profiles OroraTech as one of Germany's most dynamic New Space firms and outlines the operational role of its sensors for fire detection.

2026-02-16T11:55:18.351656-08:00

OroraTech’s dual-use wildfire-monitoring satellites — interview with co‑founder Thomas Grübler at MSC 2026

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Aerial Firefighting News

ATSB interim report: Bell 412 substantially damaged during water‑bucketing firefighting operation

De Havilland begins major structural assembly of first DHC-515 water bomber

GPMS Foresight MX HUMS adopted for Bell 412; Bell 505 launch announced as Helicopter Express first to upgrade from BHVM

Alberta commits C$400M for five De Havilland DHC‑515 water bombers; deliveries from 2031

News Timeline