Helicopters and Air Tankers

Question 1

7 ways Helicopters improve fire control

Answer 1

1: direct and rapid transport of firefighters
2: provide aerial view of the fire for initial assessment and mapping
3: wet down hot spots using buckets or belly tanks
4: to transport equipment
5: aerial backfiring ops
6: service fire lookouts and fire camps
7: emergency back country rescues

Question 2

5 ways Air Tankers improve fire control

Answer 2

1: initial action on new fires
2: to hold a fir in the first burning period
3: to secure fire control line early in the morning
4: to protect high value facilities
5: reinforce controls lines for back firing ops

Question 3

How is lift created?

Answer 3

Higher air speed over to top of the wing creates a low pressure above and high pressure below the wing, creating lift.

Question 4

Light Helicopters

Answer 4

Ex: Bell 206B, A-star, Gazelle, Hughes 500C, Hughes 500D

• up to 6,000 lbs gross weight
• up to 1,500 lbs external lift
• 1-7 passengers

Question 5

Medium Helicopters

Answer 5

Ex: Bell 204, Bell 205, Bell 212, Sikorsky S-58T

• 6,000 to 12,500 gross weight
• up to 5,000 lbs external weight
• 8-16 passengers

Question 6

Heavy Helicopters

Answer 6

Ex: Sikorsky S-61, Sikorsky S-64E, Sikorsky S-64F

• over 12,500 lbs gross weight
• 6,000 lbs or more external lift
• 17 or more passengers

Question 7

4 Types of Air Tankers

Answer 7

Douglas B - 26 Invader (ground)
Douglas DC - 6B (ground)
Canadair CL-215 (water skimmer)
Grumman “Firecat” (ground)

Question 8

Douglas B-26

Answer 8

Retardant Capacity: 830 gal

2 doors

Question 9

Douglas DC-6B

Answer 9

Retardent Capacity: 250 gal

Question 10

Canadair CL-215

Answer 10

Retardent Capacity: 1,000 gal

2 doors

Question 11

Grumman “Firecat”

Answer 11

Retardent Capacity: 1,000 gal

Question 12

(L) Bell 206B Jet Ranger

Answer 12

External: 1,200 lbs

Question 13

(I) Bell 206 Long Ranger

Answer 13

External: 1,500 lbs

Question 14

(L) Hughes 500D

Answer 14

External: 1,500 lbs

Question 15

(L) Hughes 500C

Answer 15

External: 1,200 lbs

Question 16

(L) Aerospatiale AS 341E - Gazelle

Answer 16

External: 1,000 lbs

Question 17

(L) Aerospatiale AS 350 D - Astar

Answer 17

External: 1,550 lbs

Question 18

(M) Bell 204B

Answer 18

External: 4,000 lbs

Question 19

(M) Bell 205A

Answer 19

External: 4,500 lbs

Question 20

(M) Bell 212 Twin

Answer 20

External: 5,000 lbs

Question 21

(M) Sikorsky S-58T

Answer 21

External: 4,500 lbs

Question 22

(H) Sikorsky S-61

Answer 22

External: 8,000 lbs

Question 23

(H) Sikorsky S-64E & 64F

Answer 23

External: 20,000 lbs

Question 24

Helicopter Performance

Answer 24

Take-off and Landing-always into the wind

Winds- create lift bus also turbulence (>30kph)

Ground Effect- a zone of enhanced helicopter performance within 1/2 rotor diameter of the ground

Visibility affected by- smoke, fog, precipitation, light

Density Altitude- corrected altitude for a given pressure and humidity (cooler days- maximum pitch, warmer days-minimum pitch)

Weight, distribution of load-“balance”

Question 25

Helicopter Safety

Answer 25

do nut run-be calm and alert approach and depart in view of the pilot crouch down to avoid rotor disc don't approach from an upslope position Carry objects below your waist do not cross under the tail boom keep landing area clear of loose debris ensure doors are properly closed and put on your seat belt

Question 26

Intermediate Helicopters

Answer 26

Example: Bell 206L 4 to 7 passengers up too 1500 lbs lift

Question 27

Helicopter Landing Sites

Answer 27

use natural openings where possible clearing minimum- 2x main rotor disc diameter approach, land, and depart into the wind level and stable touchdown pad

Question 28

3 reason we use air tankers?

Answer 28

1. action new fires 2. action new fires in the 2nd burning period 3. support action for ongoing fires

Question 29

A.T. operations

Answer 29

take priority over all over ops Air Attack Officer - coordinates all air traffic and drops from BD plane Bird Dog Plane - an experienced air tanker pilot the flies the drop routes and guides tankers into the drop zone

Question 30

Factors that affect performance

Answer 30

Weather (wind, temp) visibility (smoke cover etc) terrain (flight path for drop)

Question 31

Fire Retardant

Answer 31

any substance that inhibits combustion through physical or chemical means ie, water, foam (short term), clay phosphorus and red dye (long term)

Question 32

types of drops

Answer 32

Full Salvo - all doors open at once (heavy fuel canopy) Half Load - half doors open (2 passes, moderate fuel canopy) String Drop - doors open in succession (finer fuels)

Question 33

Dog Bird Signals

Answer 33

yelping siren - drops coming, leave area sharp pull up - where drops will start wailing siren - drops finished, safe circling - spot fire outside of main fireline

Question 34

what if you're caught in the drop zone?

Answer 34

don't panic or run place hand tools away and line down facing plane stay put until last drop made watch footing

Question 35

Martin Mars

Answer 35

7,200 gal load 60,000 load capacity 22 bottom drop doors 4 side drop doors

Question 36

Electra

Answer 36

2,000 gal | 8-10 doors

Question 37

Boeing 747

Answer 37

20,000 gal 4 nozzles multiple targets