Latest Aerial Firefighting news

Cal Fire gains new Firehawk helicopter

The new aircraft will replace one of the department’s Vietnam-era Super Hueys

Bell’s aircraft play critical role in European firefighting missions

Agrarflug Helilift used 60 per cent of its fleet was involved in firefighting missions, with the majority operating in Europe

Helitak receives FAA approval on Fire Suppression Tank

Australian company Helitak has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to include seven additional Sikorsky Black Hawk Type Certificates on the Helitak FT4500 Fire Suppression Tank

UK Fire Brigades Union disappointed by lack of funding

A lack of new funding for fire and rescue in the UK Budget and Spending Review could leave fire and rescue unable to deal with growing challenges including climate change

Drone interrupts firefighting efforts in New Zealand

A drone flying near a fire above Naenae, New Zealand, has forced Fire and Emergency to suspend its aerial firefighting operations

Australian firefighters put out fires in Canada

Fifty firefighters from Australia travelled to Canada to help fight wildfires

Aviation units deployed to keep Alisal Fire in check

The evacuation order put in place for the area west of Arroyo Hondo, California, has been cancelled as firefighting crew contain Alisal Fire

DART to supply new Fire Attack Systems

DART Aerospace has signed an agreement for the supply of a new generation of Fire Attack Systems for the Firehawk

more firefighting headlines

Aerial Firefighting Insights

What are the latest innovations in wildland firefighting?

Erickson outlines why communication is key to finding solutions to wildland firefighting

Erickson acquisition of Bell 214ST and 214 B/B1 Type Certificates

Erickson details the acquisition of the Bell 214ST and 214 B/B1 Type Certificates, and how it has managed to support the aging fleets over three decades

Reducing accident rates in aerial firefighting

As the volume, intensity, and risk of aerial firefighting missions increases, Mandy Langfield explores how aircraft and crew are being made safer

Let's talk new technology and aircraft adaptations in aerial firefighting

AirMed&Rescue has teamed up with Erickson, world-renowned experts in the aerial firefighting sector, to host a discussion on the latest technology changing how we fight fires from the air.

Watch now: Aerial Firefighting Roundtable on innovation in the global fight against wildfire

AirMed&Rescue plays host to Jeff Baxter from Erickson Inc., Brett L'Esperance of Dauntless Air, and Brian Collins of Intterra, for an in-depth discussion on innovation and excellence in aerial firefighting

Meet the aerial firefighting roundtable experts: Brett L'Esperance, Dauntless Air

Khai Trung Le spoke to Brett L’Esperance ahead of the AirMed&Rescue firefighting roundtable on his unique expertise on water and fire retardant drops

Meet the aerial firefighting roundtable experts: Jeff Baxter, Erickson

Khai Trung Le spoke with Jeff Baxter ahead of the Aerial firefighting roundtable discussion hosted by AirMed&Rescue with Erickson next week

Meet the aerial firefighting roundtable experts: Brian Collins, Intterra

Khai spoke with Brian Collins on the criticality of data sharing and post-incident analytics ahead of the AirMed&Rescue firefighting roundtable

Royal Commission review into Australia’s Black Summer

Mandy Langfield looks at the findings of the Royal Commission report into the 2019-2020 Australian bushfire season – the Black Summer – during which an estimated 18 million hectares of…

Colorado firefighting: research and innovation in aerial firefighting equipment

Amy Gallagher spoke to a raft of experts involved in aerial firefighting research and active service, finding out more about the latest assets and resources that Colorado is pioneering and…

What does it take to be an aerial firefighting pilot?

Eder Navacerrada writes about the importance of patterns, decisions and sustained professional growth when it comes to developing a career as a firefighting aviator, focusing on fixed-wing single crew

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Why the Korea Forest Service purchased the S-64 for aerial firefighting

Erickson highlight the key features which make the S-64 aircrane an essential aerial firefighting asset around the world

Interview: Captain Juan Cumplido, firefighting pilot for Babcock Aviation in Spain

Mandy Langfield spoke to Captain Juan Cumplido, firefighting pilot for Babcock Aviation in Spain, about risk management, the key differences between firefighting tactics in Europe compared to other regions, as…

Taking wildfires personally

Brittany (Wise) Black, Senior Vice President of Sales, Business Development and Marketing for Erickson Incorporated, shares stories from individuals who have been directly impacted by wildfires

Aerial firefighting in the Asia-Pacific region

Investment and innovation in aerial firefighting aircraft continues around the world, and in the Asia Pacific region, opportunities abound as governments consider whether or not to operate their own fleets…

Aerial firefighting in North America

AirMed&Rescue investigates the aerial firefighting response in the various regions of North America. Who are the top players and how do they ensure that operations are successfully carried out?

Aerial Firefighting in South America

Mandy Langfield takes a look at aerial firefighting in the region of South America, considering how operators have adapted to key environmental and cultural factors

Aerial firefighting in Europe

Brittany Wise, Vice-President and General Manager of Civil Aviation Services at Erickson Incorporated, discusses the eradication and control of wildfires

Pre-suppression efforts + aerial firefighting technology = winning combination

Brittany Wise, Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Erickson Incorporated, discusses how aerial firefighting can be made more effective through a combination of new technologies and government intervention of…

Leading the S-64 aircraft into the future: introducing the S-64F+

Erickson on how they are building upon their experience as Air Crane® OEM to innovate and integrate the latest technology to tackle night firefighting missions with the launch of the Future of…

Counting the cost of wildfires in California

Erickson considers the causes, and projected futures, of wildfires in the state of California, and the role that aerial firefighting resources can play in minimizing damage and mitigating risk

Aerial firefighting technology and tactics

Aerial firefighting can take many forms – from surveillance drones, to huge water bomber jets and light utility helicopters equipped with buckets. Mario Pierobon takes an in-depth look at what…

Aerosystems: manufacturing and MRO services for aerial firefighting

Aging fleets need ongoing support battling a global fire season that’s increasing in both duration and intensity as a result of global warming. Erickson shares how the S-64 Air Crane®…

Aerial firefighting: How effective are water enhancers?

The US-based Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting (CoE) and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control’s Aviation Unit (DFPC) conducted a study during the 2017-2019 wildland…

Firefighting drone technology

Amy Gallagher explains how firefighting drone technology designed to protect people and property is developing; but without financial backing from the government, implementation continues to be a challenge

Nighttime firefighting

Mandy Langfield explores how certain regions are employing different strategies and improved technologies to enhance their nighttime aerial firefighting capabilities

Australian bushfires: aerial response from firefighters

Firefighters and military aid in Australia and beyond have come together to bravely fight the Australian bushfires. Mandy Langfield investigates

Multi-person rescues

Mario Pierobon talks to industry providers to discuss the latest developments in multi-person rescue options