Growth and expansion
Confidently advancing through the year, Nicholas Noorman, Business Development Manager at Helitak, discusses the development of products and services that Helitak are offering its customers
What can you tell us about the new Aerial Strike Buckets?
The Aerial Strike Buckets represent a modern evolution in aerial firefighting buckets. Beyond the high-quality components, we prioritize new features, safety, and ease of operation. Our flight controls, integrated with our tanking systems, allow operators to seamlessly switch between equipment with just a flip of the switch. This enhances safety and efficiency, as pilots rely on their muscle memory, ensuring smooth transitions. A standout feature of the Aerial Strike Bucket is the multiple drop capability across all of our sizes. We enable our operators to add more water or foam with each drop, increasing efficiency as they continue to fight the fire.
Growth in demand for the Black Hawk UH-60 Fire Tank has led you to open a new production facility in California. What can you tell us about this facility?
The demand for the UH-60 as the preferred platform for both commercial and governmental firefighting operations has been tremendous. In response, we are in the process of expanding our facility in Camarillo, California, from focusing on our service and support to include full-scale production. This strategic move brings us closer to our growing markets, allowing us to reduce lead times and increase production capacity. The new facility enhances our ability to quickly respond to customer needs and provide faster maintenance and support as well, ensuring we meet the rising demand. This expansion reinforces our commitment to delivering our reliable firefighting solutions to operators across North America and beyond.
Can you explain the advances Helitak have made with compatibility of your products on the Super Puma?
Helitak provides two exceptional options for aerial firefighting: the FT4250 fire tank and the FB4000 Aerial Strike Bucket, both specifically designed for compatibility with the Super Puma. The FT4250 has been fully validated with a supplemental type certificate (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Helitak is actively seeking bi-lateral approvals to support its global customer base. A standout feature of these systems is their ability to be installed and removed without requiring any permanent modifications to the aircraft, allowing the Super Puma to retain its full multi-mission flexibility. With a quick installation and removal time of under 25 minutes, operators can seamlessly transition the Super Puma between firefighting and other tasks, maximizing its versatility.
The FT4250’s lightweight design ensures operators can optimize the Super Puma’s lifting capabilities, offering a 4,250L (1,123gal) capacity for efficient water drops, or the alternative FT4000 Aerial Strike Bucket. Additionally, the system includes advanced data recording functionality, which tracks real-time water volume, previous drop history, fill and drop locations, and fill times. This data-driven approach enhances operational efficiency, providing operators with critical insights that streamline mission planning and execution.
What else is coming up in 2025?
In 2025, Helitak is poised for significant growth and expansion, with several exciting developments on the horizon for both current and potential customers. As stated earlier we are expanding our production capacity in California, enabling us to meet the growing demand and ensuring our customers receive the highest standard of aerial firefighting equipment.
Helitak is also focusing on growth in new markets while continuing to support and strengthen our presence in mature markets. As part of this expansion, we’re actively pursuing more STCs, further broadening the range of aircraft we can support. This will allow more helicopter operators around the world to benefit from our advanced firefighting solutions.
We are also committed to innovation, with new products on the way to helping helicopter operators perform more efficiently and effectively. These upcoming products are designed to enhance the flexibility and performance of our customers’ fleets, providing operators with even more options to tackle various mission requirements.
For Helitak this upcoming year is about growth and opportunities, as we expand our production capabilities, broaden our market reach, and introduce innovative products to better serve the needs of our customers worldwide.
April 2025
Issue
Our April edition has a special focus on aerial firefighting, with features that include rescues during wildfire situations; the coordination process and tools used between aircraft and firefighters; the distinct job of the smokejumper; the different use cases for buckets and tanks, and what needs to be considered for your airframe; the continued appeal of the Firehawk platform; and the importance of proper expertise when treating traumatic brain injuries; plus more of our regular content.
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