Aerial Firefighting News

Airbus

THC places firm order for eight more Airbus H145 light twins under 2024 Airbus framework (deliveries 2027–2028)

Saudi Arabia’s The Helicopter Company (THC) has signed firm orders for eight additional Airbus H145 light-twin helicopters, with deliveries scheduled for 2027–2028. The order draws from a 2024 Airbus framework agreement covering up to 120 aircraft, extending THC’s rotorcraft fleet growth.

38 Sources

2026-07-20T01:08:01.010747-07:00

FlightGlobal

Airbus backs ATR 72 waterbomber conversion as Positive Aviation targets a 2029 alternative to the Canadair

7 Sources

2026-07-17T06:43:56.547534-07:00

eVTOL Insights

NOEMI Aerospace wins €3M from Innovation Norway to fund flight tests of its electric amphibious aircraft

2 Sources

2026-07-17T00:15:41.524898-07:00

Vertical Mag

France taps helicopters and CL-415s as Poland starts Sikorsky S-70 FIREHAWK production for Czech aerial firefighting

4 Sources

2026-07-15T05:45:46.605164-07:00

Aerial Firefighting News Timeline

Vertical Mag

1 source

Moog secures FAA certification for 4-axis retrofit IFR autopilot for UH-60 Black Hawk Moog says it has received FAA approval for the GRC 4000 rotorcraft autopilot in a first retrofit configuration on the Black Hawk. The IFR-capable, 4-axis system is positioned to add advanced automation to UH-60 operations via certified avionics installation.

2026-07-20T09:40:27.848730-07:00

Moog secures FAA certification for 4-axis retrofit IFR autopilot for UH-60 Black Hawk

Airbus

38 sources

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THC places firm order for eight more Airbus H145 light twins under 2024 Airbus framework (deliveries 2027–2028) Saudi Arabia’s The Helicopter Company (THC) has signed firm orders for eight additional Airbus H145 light-twin helicopters, with deliveries scheduled for 2027–2028. The order draws from a 2024 Airbus framework agreement covering up to 120 aircraft, extending THC’s rotorcraft fleet growth.

2026-07-20T01:08:01.010747-07:00

THC places firm order for eight more Airbus H145 light twins under 2024 Airbus framework (deliveries 2027–2028)

Ars Technica

None source

Google-backed satellites for wildfire detection launch as smoke chokes US, Canada

2026-07-17T12:59:09.185978-07:00

Google-backed satellites for w

FlightGlobal

7 sources

Airbus backs ATR 72 waterbomber conversion as Positive Aviation targets a 2029 alternative to the Canadair Airbus will begin assembling the first float for a Positive Aviation program to convert an ATR 72 into a firefighting waterbomber, aiming for an initial operational alternative to the Canadair by 2029. In parallel, Corsica Technics has signed an LoI for 10 Kepplair 72 conversion kits, while France has also contracted for two DHC Canadair 515 amphibious aircraft.

2026-07-17T06:43:56.547534-07:00

Airbus backs ATR 72 waterbomber conversion as Positive Aviation targets a 2029 alternative to the Canadair

eVTOL Insights

2 sources

NOEMI Aerospace wins €3M from Innovation Norway to fund flight tests of its electric amphibious aircraft NOEMI Aerospace has secured €3 million from Innovation Norway to support its flight test program for an electric amphibious aircraft. The funding is earmarked specifically for flight-test activities as the company advances from development toward operational evaluation.

2026-07-17T00:15:41.524898-07:00

NOEMI Aerospace wins €3M from Innovation Norway to fund flight tests of its electric amphibious aircraft

Vertical Mag

4 sources

France taps helicopters and CL-415s as Poland starts Sikorsky S-70 FIREHAWK production for Czech aerial firefighting French civil security forces are fighting multiple wildfires with a mix of rotorcraft and CL-415 waterbombers while, in parallel, Poland’s PZL Mielec (a Lockheed Martin company) has begun production of Europe’s first Sikorsky S-70 FIREHAWK helicopters. The initial units are being built for Czech Republic firefighting and emergency response.

2026-07-15T05:45:46.605164-07:00

France taps helicopters and CL-415s as Poland starts Sikorsky S-70 FIREHAWK production for Czech aerial firefighting

Vertical Mag

4 sources

Kaman K-Max helicopter pilot killed in Colorado wildfire firefighting crash Police in southwestern Colorado say a helicopter crash killed Nicholas Dale, a pilot from Sooke, British Columbia, while he was battling the Gold Mountain Fire. Authorities identified the aircraft as a Kaman K-1200 K-Max used by Helicopter Express for aerial firefighting operations.

2026-07-14T07:30:14.107146-07:00

Kaman K-Max helicopter pilot killed in Colorado wildfire firefighting crash

Vertical Mag

1 source

Layered aerial firefighting fleets become the backbone of modern wildfire response Wildfire agencies are moving from single-aircraft tactics to layered aerial fleets that combine different platforms and roles as blazes grow more intense. The approach is designed to improve coverage, speed of attack, and operational flexibility across fast-changing fire behavior.

2026-07-13T05:30:08.511573-07:00

Layered aerial firefighting fleets become the backbone of modern wildfire response

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Aerial Firefighting News

THC places firm order for eight more Airbus H145 light twins under 2024 Airbus framework (deliveries 2027–2028)

Airbus backs ATR 72 waterbomber conversion as Positiv​​e Aviation targets a 2029 alternative to the Canadair

NOEMI Aerospace wins €3M from Innovation Norway to fund flight tests of its electric amphibious aircraft

France taps helicopters and CL-415s as Poland starts Sikorsky S-70 FIREHAWK production for Czech aerial firefighting

Aerial Firefighting News Timeline

Airbus backs ATR 72 waterbomber conversion as Positive Aviation targets a 2029 alternative to the Canadair