Air Cranes and Super Pumas continue to support firefighting in Chile

In addition to the five H125 B3s already in operation, two S-64 Air Cranes and three Super Pumas have been added to strengthen Ecocopter+Helisul’s fleet of helicopters dedicated to fighting forest fires in Chile.These powerful aircraft, together with their expert crews, are prepared to deal with emergencies in various areas of the country.

“We are committed to improving the response capacity to forest fires in the country,” said Francisco Arriagada, Commercial Manager of Ecocopter+Helisul. “The incorporation of these helicopters is a crucial step to ensure that we are prepared to face any emergency, contributing with air resources by incorporating high-impact aircraft that perform a key, safe and efficient task for these types of operations.”

Operations in forest bases in strategic areas, aerial combat and the transfer of firefighters on helicopter missions are essential when it comes to extinguishing a fire. For this reason, the company has provided three types of helicopters.

The Air Crane, the largest and most efficient of its kind in the world, is highly effective and works at the head of the fire, slowing its advance. Its capabilities include a 10,000L tank that can be filled by a hose in no more than 35 seconds, a payload capacity of more than 9,000kg with a range of 370km and/or an autonomy of 2.5 hours.

Then there are the Super Pumas, which belong to the semi-heavy segment, can drop up to 3,500L of water, and have a flight autonomy of up to three hours, and a complete firefighting system.

Finally, there are the H125 B3s, equipped with fire extinguishing systems. These helicopters can fly at low altitude, have power, stability, speed and the capacity to release around 1,200L of water per discharge, in addition to transporting firefighters. This allows them to operate in extreme conditions, including high temperatures and difficult terrain, providing a quick and efficient response to any emergency.

The company also said that, if the emergency so requires, helicopters from the fleet operating outside the country will be available and will remain on alert.

Coulson Aviation recently entered a contract with Chile for the Boeing 737 FireLiner.