Latest Aerial Firefighting news

Portugal receives four firefighting helicopters

The Portuguese Air Force (FAP) has acquired four new rotorcraft under the government’s Recovery and Resilience Plan

San Diego County acquires new rotorcraft

California’s San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has unveiled two new helicopters – a Bell 412EPX and a Bell 407GXi

Cargolux to acquire firefighting fleet

Luxembourgian cargo airline Cargolux is reportedly looking to purchase a fleet of AT-802F Air Tractor Fire Boss firefighting aircraft

Air Tractor Europe orders 31 Fire Boss systems

Fire Boss has received an order for 31 Fire Boss firefighting systems from Air Tractor Europe (ATE)

AutoFlight announces firefighting eVTOL

Aerospace manufacturer AutoFlight has unveiled a prototype electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) for aerial firefighting

Coulson Aviation awarded three-year firefighting contract with Chile’s CONAF

A C-130H Hercules large airtanker and a Citation 550 air attack lead plane are included in the contract

Alberta Wildfire acquires night vision-capable helicopter

Canada’s Alberta Wildfire forest protection agency has added a new firefighting helicopter to its fleet for nighttime operations

San Diego County approves grant for firefighting helicopter

The federal grant will enable the purchase of a twin-engine helicopter for firefighting and search and rescue missions

more firefighting headlines

2023 Aerial Firefighting Special Edition

Government or contract? Aerial firefighting around the world

Robin Gauldie looks at the different approaches to short-term and respond-as-needed aerial firefighting contracts around the world

Drop it like it’s hot: buckets versus tanks

Buckets and tanks both have advantages when helicopter firefighting – but which has the edge? Barry Smith investigates

Data measurement in aerial firefighting

Can data collection and visualization save lives and property in firefighting? A story from the perspectives of those collecting and using the data

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Aerial Firefighting Insights

The right resources at the right time: approaches for different wildfires across the globe

Jeff Berry, an aerial firefighter with Conair, talked to AirMed&Rescue about adapting to different wildfire environments across the globe

Achieving international standards certification for aerial firefighting craft

Dan Carnelly talks to Jon Adams about the proposal to ICAO to introduce a new standard for airworthiness certification

Interview: Ephraim Nowak, Co-Founder and Chief Engineer at Rain

When it Rains, it pours: Jon Adams spoke to Ephraim Nowak about innovative aerial firefighting solutions, utilizing UAS and AI for quicker and safer operations

Interview: Stu Sprung, Chief of Flight Operations, Aviation Management Unit, CAL FIRE

Fighting fire in California: Jon Adams spoke with Stu Sprung about the CAL FIRE approach to tackling fires with one of the world’s largest dedicated aerial firefighting fleets

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…

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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Aerial Firefighting Insights

Fighting fires in Greece with the S64E

AirMed&Rescue spoke to Gary Harman, Greece Country Manager for Erickson Inc., about why the S64 has made, and will continue to make, such a difference to the country’s aerial firefighting…

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…

Provider Profile: Dauntless Air

Oliver Cuenca talks to Jesse Weaver, Dauntless Air Director of Operations and Chief Pilot, about fighting fires and maintaining high standards of safety

Lessons Learned: Aerial Firefighting and High-Rise Rescue since the 9/11 Attacks

Jennifer Ferrero explores how the urban aerial firefighting and search and rescue landscapes were irreversibly changed by the terror attack in New York in 2001

Black Summer - European Wildfires

With Europe experiencing vast destruction of land, and disruption to life, AirMed&Rescue considers if Europe was ready, and with climate change increasing, what can we learn?

Interview: Sam Foster, Erickson

AirMed&Rescue spoke with Sam Foster, Manufacturing Manager at Erickson about legacy, innovation, and confidence developed through a focus around sustainability

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

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…