Death on the Widemouth 2
How staffing shortfalls and extreme heat fractured federal aerial firefighting Aerospace & Emergency Response Desk Sevier County Sheriff Nathan Curtis gave the order himself: get everyone out. A Sikorsky S-64…
Europe’s Firehawk Shift: How Poland-Built Rotorcraft Are Redefining Wildfire Response
On July 14, PZL Mielec began building Europe’s first S-70 Firehawk, a purpose-built firefighting helicopter constructed for the Czech Republic’s Ministry of the Interior. Lockheed Martin, which owns the Polish…
The Retardant Bottleneck
Washington ordered its pilots to attack every wildfire at full force. It didn’t ask whether the airports on the receiving end could handle it. By midmorning on June 16, the…
Aero-Flight: Our team, our fleet and our footprint
By: Isabelle Crow Tracy Zedeck the Initial Attack Captain of the CL415 Super Scooper, Mike Downing the First Officer of Dash 8-400AT and Chris Niemann, General Manager at Aero-Flite discuss…
Coulson Aviation Expands Firefighting Capabilities with Additional C-130H Airtankers
By: Jordan Taylor Coulson Aviation USA, a leading provider of large airtanker support for wildland firefighting, has announced the expansion of its C-130H Hercules fleet to ten aircraft. The announcement,…
Leonardo Unveils C-27J Next-Generation “Fire Fighter
By: John Adler Leonardo has introduced an advanced, cutting-edge solution to tackle the growing challenge of wildfires with its C-27J Next Generation “Fire Fighter.” This twin-engine turboprop aircraft is designed…
New-Generation Aircraft In Development For Aerial Firefighting Mission
By: Tony Osborne After relying for decades on fleets of 1950s and ’60s-era aircraft, the firefighting industry is introducing new technologies and fleets to make their operations safer, more effective…
BLM Wyoming bolsters aerial firefighting capabilities with new Casper Airtanker Base
After several years of operating from a makeshift one-acre base – complete with surplus FEMA trailer, camp trailer, portable retardant tanks, and porta-potties – a modernized, permanent airtanker base to…
Retrofitted C-130 Air Tanker Strengthens Cal Fire’s Wildfire Response Fleet
By: Eric Johnson A newly retrofitted Cal Fire air tanker is already proving its worth in the state’s firefighting efforts, having tackled more than a dozen fires in just three…
Authorities Identify Air Tanker Pilot Killed in Eastern Oregon Wildfire
By: Lucas Reed Authorities have identified the pilot who tragically lost his life while battling one of the massive wildfires in Eastern Oregon last week. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office…