Latest Aerial Firefighting news

Maui Fire Department unveils new helicopter

Hawaii’s Maui Fire Department (MFD) has unveiled its new firefighting helicopter, a Eurocopter BK 117 known as ‘Iolani’, which will enter regular service from 1 July

Helitak receives FAA approval for eight new aircraft models

The new additions bring the number of models certified for use with the FT4500 fire suppression tank to 18, with more models planned for approval in future

Coulson Aviation sells Fireliner to Argentinean province

Argentina’s province of Santiago del Estero has acquired a Boeing 737 Fireliner airtanker from Coulson Aviation USA, to be stationed in Las Termas De Rio Hondo

UAE approves drones for firefighting support

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority has granted approval for the use of 180 drones by firefighters in Dubai

Integration, communication and innovation in aerial firefighting

AirMed&Rescue magazine spoke to Mark Woody of TracPlus tracking and communication service about the company’s latest efforts to enhance the ability of aerial firefighters to share information and enhance outcomes

San Diego County approves new firefighting helicopter

The county will now begin negotiations to purchase a Bell 412 EPX helicopter to support wildland firefighting efforts in the region, following the approval of the county’s Board of Supervisors

Guam first responders train for aerial firefighting

Aerial emergency responders in Guam have been participating in joint firefighting exercises to improve coordination between firefighting organizations and crews

California’s Air National Guard installs new retardant ground tanks

The California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing (146 AW) has completed the installation of four new fire-retardant ground storage tanks, in support of aerial firefighting capabilities

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Aerial Firefighting Insights

Expecting the best from the industry

Erickson discusses the importance of maintaining high quality standards across the spectrum of aircraft production

Innovations in aerial firefighting

Exciting upgrades and innovations in aerial firefighting are enabling fleets to combat the growing severity of wildfires across the globe. Those on the frontline share with Lauren Haigh the latest…

Rising to the challenge of more frequent wildfires

Amy Gallagher reports on how aerial firefighters are rising to the challenge of increased wildland fires in the US by the introduction of innovative solutions and transforming military-grade aircraft into…

Aerial firefighting assets in Australia - after Black Summer, what's changed?

Two years on, Australia continues to sift through the ashes of the bushfires in 2019-20 in a bid to ensure the lessons learnt from the most devastating fire season in…

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

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

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

Innovations in aerial firefighting

Exciting upgrades and innovations in aerial firefighting are enabling fleets to combat the growing severity of wildfires across the globe. Those on the frontline share with Lauren Haigh the latest…

Rising to the challenge of more frequent wildfires

High-Altitude Intelligence

Barry D Smith takes a look at how remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper drones have proved themselves an indispensable asset to firefighters battling Californian wildfires since their introduction ten years ago

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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

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

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…

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…