AerialFire Magazine November/December 2023

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2023

Aerial Firefighting Europe 2023 Greece Shines

RAMIFICATIONS OF THE MUNDANE HOW GOOD CRM CATCHES ERRORS BEFORE HARM CAN OCCUR

INSIGHTS & ANALYSIS MAPPING THE BUSHFIRE OUTLOOK

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Aerial Firefighting Europe 2023 GREECE SHINES

AERIALFIRE IS PUBLISHED BY

PUBLISHER: Graham Lavender - graham@marsaylmedia.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Ryan Mason - ryan@marsaylmedia.com

ACCOUNTING/ADMINISTRATION: Casey Armstrong - casey@marsaylmedia.com

DISPLAY ADVERTISING: Melanie Woodley - melanie@marsaylmedia.com

on the cover

PRODUCTION: Daniela Constantino - daniela@marsaylmedia.com

Take a look at the highlights from Aerial Firefighting Europe 2023, held in Greece this October.

in this issue

News & Features

14 McDermott Aviation Branches into Fixed Wing with C-160 Purchases 18 Rain and Sikorsky Collaborate to Advance Rapid Response Capabilities for Aerial Wildland Firefighting 28 Helitak and Rotak Continue Certification Work on CH-47 FT-11K Tank

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CIRCULATION: Mary Jane Virden - maryjane@marsaylmedia.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Nancy Argyle

Larry Kreig

Nat Drew

Tiffany Taylor

Todd O’Hara

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: John Pitsakis

Mike Biden

Marty Wolin

Gavin Douglas

Konstantinos Marmarelis

© Copyright 2023 AerialFire retains all rights for reproduction of any material submitted, to include but not limited to articles, photographs, emails and bulletin board posts. All material remain the copyright of AerialFire. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in part or whole, without the written consent of the publisher. Editorial published do not necessary reflect the views of the publisher.

Content within AerialFire is believed to be true and accurate and the publisher does not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions. Unsolicited editorial manuscripts and photos are welcomed and encouraged.

We cannot be responsible for return unless submissions are accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Advertising deadline is 12 noon, on the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication.

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38 Improving Data for Aerial Firefighters 40 Will Increased Risk Bring Canada’s Air Force into the Aerial Wildfire Fight?

48 Ramifications of the Mundane 64 Lowest Price Technically Acceptable 74 Insights and Analysis: Mapping the Bushfire Outlook with TracPlus

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IN EVERY ISSUE

The Drop...............................................6 AerialFire Pics........................................8 Craymer’s Counsel................................12

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aerialfiremag.com | AF 5

THE DROP

Ryan Mason ryan@aerialfiremag.com

Collaboration is Key

Having just returned from the aerial firefighting show in Europe held in Greece, the most important thing that I came away from after this show, and the two previous installments held in Seattle, Washington, and Dubbo, NSW, Australia, is this industry would not be what it is without the massive collaborative efforts that occur annually.

representatives to host shows that further the common good of Aerial Firefighting and bring people together from all over the world who may not otherwise have a venue to talk with each other and share ideas, experiences and best practices that may otherwise be stored as tribal knowledge within a company or firefighting operation.

The Tangent Link shows are an excellent example of collaborating for a common good. Although Tangent Link is a private company, they collaborate with key partners across the world to bring together both vendors and industry

At the shows this year, evidence of collaboration was everywhere, from vendors collaborating with customers to purchase goods to collaborating for a common goal on a specific product that would benefit the industry. A great

AF 6 | aerialfiremag.com

example of that is the collaboration between Helitak Firefighting Equipment and McDermott Aviation, who announced shortly before the AFFE show in Greece a collaborative effort to build the first fixed-wing aerial firefighting tank for the C-160 for McDermott, themselves moving into a new area in the fixed wing world that without collaboration with Helitak, may not have been possible to achieve. Examples like this happen often in our industry segment and throughout it regularly.

Collaboration is a crucial piece of aerial firefighting, without which we would all not be as successful at putting out fires or our respective slice of the industry from which we exist. Even from my perspective in the magazine, we would not be able to achieve what we have over the last several years without collaborating with the dozens of customers and operators we feature each year in the publication.

During the pandemic, many operators faced severe challenges in delivering their products worldwide, getting aircraft where they needed to be and operating where they needed to. Collaboration between operators and state, federal, and local agencies was never more vital than it was through the pandemic. Those experiences created longstanding bonds between operators and customers that will not soon be forgotten.

The same goes for many of us at shows worldwide that foster years-long relationships from vendor to vendor or vendor to agencies that continue to pay dividends to those who know the value of collaborative efforts.

Sometimes, collaborating does not have an end goal other than to help someone else achieve a goal, much like mentoring someone new in the industry to navigate the pitfalls of the industry. Those lessons are hard to learn alone and much easier when you have an industry veteran to help you navigate. Those long-lasting relationships have a way of paying off through collaborative efforts to reach a common goal, which sounds simple when you say “put the wet stuff on the hot stuff” as a common goal.

Still, as we all know, there are thousands more pieces to that much-simplified puzzle, and it is often made much easier when you have the right people to collaborate with to achieve the right results.

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aerialfiremag.com | AF 7

A McDermott Aviation Bell 214B after a water pickup in Greece. Photo by John Pitsakis.

A Pays Aviation Fire Boss departing in Greece. Photo by Konstantinos Marmarelis.

AF 8 | aerialfiremag.com

A Ventura County Fire/Coulson Aviation CH-47 drops in California. Photo by Gavin Douglas.

AERIALFIRE AERIAL FIRE PICS

Tanker 914 on arrival as the moon rises. Photo by Marty Wolin.

aerialfiremag.com | AF 9

UAFA Visits the Hill

by Tiffany Taylor On September 18 and 19, 2023, over twenty members of the United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA) visited Capitol Hill to meet with over thirty congressional offices including many of the representatives themselves, to advocate for our industry and our mission. The purpose of the visit was to introduce UAFA and discuss two major legislative changes that would make federal contracts for fire suppression more effective and efficient.

The most important is a change in the definition of what suppression funds can be used for. Due to the limited amount of preparedness funds allotted for pre-season contracts, call when needed contracts have been more prevalent. A change in the definition would allow the use of suppression funds for pre-season exclusive use contracts, rather than just on-call contracts. This would provide more stability and predictability for both the contractors and the agencies, as well as reduce costs and increase efficiency.

The second request works with the first to encourage longerterm contracts by removing the agencies’ requirement to fund the cancellation ceiling at the time of award for multiyear contracts. A multi-year contract is different from a multiple-year contract in that there is a guarantee for the entire term vice a base period and multiple option periods.

This would allow the Forest Service to award longer term contracts with aerial firefighting companies without requiring its limited preparedness funds to languish on an accounting line for years in the event the contract is cancelled. This would also allow the Forest Service to secure lower overall rates from aerial firefighting companies since the companies would have the stability they need to invest in new equipment and retain experienced personnel.

The UAFA members met with a variety of congressional staff members, including members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, and the House and Senate Natural Resources Committees. The UAFA members shared their stories about the challenges of fighting wildfires and explained how the proposed legislative changes would help them to be more effective in protecting communities and the environment.

Several congressional members commented on the fact that industry competitors were in the room together to discuss the issues meant something in the federal system was broken.

“It is important to engage with elected officials to communicate and educate the about the aerial fire industry and to continue to support the wildland fire suppression AF 10 | aerialfiremag.com

(L to R) Dave McCammon-PJ Helicopters, Bob Sanchez-Universal Avionics, Justin Gunsauls-PJ Helicopters, James Whaley-Sen Bennett Office, Paul Petersen-UAFA, Richard Simpson-Dauntless Air, Jennifer Johnson-Bighorn Public Affairs, Erin Fox-Fortress FRS, Jennif.

L to R Eddie Goldberg-Perimeter Solutions, Darren Wilkens-Bridger Aerospace, Tiffany Taylor-UAFA, Rep Mike Simpson (ID), Brett L’Esperance-Dauntless Air, Bart Brainerd-Firehawk Helicopters.

effort” said Paul Petersen, UAFA Executive Director. “UAFA engagement with Congress and Agencies is a critical role of our organization to support our members” The UAFA’s visit to Capitol Hill was a success. The association members were able to raise awareness about the critical role that aerial firefighting plays in protecting communities from wildfires and to build support for their legislative priorities. The UAFA is committed to continuing to work with Congress to pass legislation that will make federal contracts for fire suppression more effective and efficient.

More UAFA outreach is expected in early 2024 when Congress is drafting the FY2025 budget.

Aerial firefighting is a vital service that protects lives, property, and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfires. We are proud to be part of this community, and we thank all our members and supporters for their dedication and commitment. We have members from corporate, affiliate and partner organizations. Join us at www.uafa.org.

UAFA is the only comprehensive association dedicated to aerial firefighting and is a united voice advocating for safety and standardization on the local, state, and federal levels.

WHY JOIN?

BE PART OF THE SINGLE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY. COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY. ACCESS TO MEMBERS ONLY RESOURCES Find out More and Join:

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aerialfiremag.com | AF 11

CRAYMER’S COUNSEL

Robert Craymer - robertc@covingtonaircraft.com

As I began thinking about this topic, it dawned on me that several of us may not know what the acronym means. FOD can stand for two different but associated things. The first acronym meaning is Foreign Object Debris. It makes sense when people say FOD damage that they are using this meaning. The second meaning is Foreign Object Damage.

When we discuss engine components with damage due to ingestion, this is the meaning we reference. For instance, the blade requires repair due to FOD. The first thing I always bring up with regards to FOD is that the event may be insurable. If you have an incident that cannot be repaired on wing, be sure and contact your insurance company to determine if your event is insurable on your policy.

The engine maintenance manual doesn’t specifically call out FOD until you get further into the manual, rather it talks of material ingestion with additional specific call outs for bird strikes or “soft material” ingestion inspections. If material remains are found on the 1st stage compressor blades, it is an indication that soft material has been ingested. We had this happen not too long ago. A customer said his performance had changed after a bird strike. The inspection calls out possible contamination of the gas path. We found “material” left over from a bird strike had contaminated the bleed valve and was leading to improper function. A little cleaning and washing got him back in the air quickly. If you AF 12 | aerialfiremag.com

have this type of occurrence and the engine is to remain in service after a soft material ingestion, then a performance recovery wash must be done per the maintenance manual.

If other material goes into the compressor, such as stones, ice, etc., you must inspect the compressor and determine the next course of action. Part of this inspection requirement is a performance run to make sure that the compressor operation has not been compromised. If performance is acceptable but there is damage on the compressor, you must decide if the FOD is acceptable. Inspection historically has been accomplished with the use of a mirror and flashlight.

Due to heightened concerns about erosion of the PT6A-67’s a borescope is now necessary to make determinations of damage. A borescope is a very handy tool to help you make the proper decisions.

If the damage found on the compressor from either FOD or erosion are within the acceptable limits, you might make the decision to continue operation without repair. Per the engine maintenance manual there is an “acceptable without repair” path that you can take. Yes, that is right, acceptable WITHOUT repair. BUT, you knew a but was coming, if the engine with acceptable damage remains in service without repair, the FOD must be inspected again in 100 hours. Subsequent inspections are up to you but must not exceed 400 hours. All of this is based upon acceptable performance.

There are blend repairs in the manual to prevent unnecessary engine removal. You must keep in mind there are some specific limits and directions in the engine maintenance manual that will help limit the performance loss that the compressor could experience. A performance run must again be performed post repair. It is possible that the post repair performance is so negatively impacted that the engine will have to be removed to address the performance loss.

There are a handful of items that you cannot address on wing. Unacceptable damage includes tears, cracks, tip curl and sharp edges. Repairing FOD on wing is not the simplest of tasks as there is limited access to the affected parts. You do need to document any repairs that you accomplish and keep the inlet and airbox as clean as possible. Don’t forget your air filter maintenance, this is the first line of protection that you have against FOD. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us. We are here to help you.

Robert Craymer has worked on PT6A engine and PT6A powered aircraft for the past three decades, including the last 25+ years at Covington Aircraft. As a licensed A&P mechanic, Robert has held every job in an engine overhaul shop as well as being an instructor of PT6A Maintenance and Familiarization courses for both pilots and mechanics.

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McDermott Aviation Branches into Fixed Wing with C-160 Purchases Globally recognized aerial firefighting company McDermott Aviation, known for its large fleet of Bell 214 and 241ST aircraft, will soon become a fixed-wing aerial firefighting operation in addition to supplying helicopters worldwide for fire suppression operations.

September 13th, 2023, the company took delivery of a C-160 aircraft into Australia, arriving at the Sunshine Coast Airport in Queensland, where it will be fitted out with a 3000-gallon tank by Australian tank manufacturer Helitak Firefighting Equipment.

The C-160 will be the first fixed-wing tank created by Helitak Firefighting Equipment, located in Lake McDonald, Queensland, which has previously created retractable tanks for multiple helicopter types, with the most popular being the FT4500 tank, used by many United States and Australian fire contractors on the UH-60 Blackhawk.

“The C-160 project is a new challenge for us at Helitak, but creating a tank for a fixed-wing aircraft was only a matter of time for us as a business, our longstanding relationship with McDermott Aviation has allowed us to become the vendor that will produce the next generation of tank for the industry in the C-160 and allow McDermott Aviation to further assist multiple countries in providing a more comprehensive response to aerial firefighting,” said Jason Schellars, Helitak’s founder and CEO.

AF 14 | aerialfiremag.com

The Transall C-160 was first produced as a military transport aircraft, produced as a joint venture between France and Germany. According to information from Wikipedia, “Transall” is an abbreviation of the manufacturing consortium Transporter Allianz, comprising the companies of MBB, Aerospatiale, and VFW-Fokker. It was initially developed to meet the requirements for a modern transport aircraft for the French and German Air Forces; export sales were also made to South Africa and Turkey, as well as a small number to civilian operators.

The C-160 remains in service more than 60 years after the type’s first flight in 1963. It has provided logistical support to overseas operations and has served in specialist roles such as an aerial refueling tanker, electronic intelligence gathering, and as a communications platform.

The C-160 has been replaced in French and German military service by the Airbus A400M Atlas, and a small number of Lockheed-Martin C-130J Super Hercules.

The C-160 arriving in Australia is one of several purchased

by McDermott Aviation that will go into service once tanks are installed in restricted category operations for service in European countries to combat the ever-growing need for firefighting aircraft provided by contractors as fire danger continues to increase year by year in European countries as the number of acres burned increases annually.

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Fire Boss Names Distribution Partner for Latin America Fire Boss announced on October 18th, 2023, that AgSur Aviones has been named an official distribution partner for Central and South America for the Fire Boss aerial firefighting system. “This partnership means our customers will have direct assistance within their country for sales and service. AgSur has sold over 300 Air Tractor aircraft in this market, proving it has the infrastructure to be at the ready when it comes to supporting aerial firefighting. With the accelerated growth of the Fire Boss market, it makes sense

AF 16 | aerialfiremag.com

to partner with the number one Air Tractor dealer in Latin America,” said Clint E. Clouatre, Vice President Marketing & Sales for Fire Boss LLC. “The progression of our rise to being a distributor felt natural and is one we intend to grow. The Fire Boss is the premier firefighting aircraft in the world, and it is our pleasure to represent Fire Boss throughout Latin America!,” said Alejandro Moreno, Managing Partner of AgSur.

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Rain and Sikorsky Collaborate to Advance Rapid Response Capabilities for Aerial Wildland Firefighting Rain, a provider of aerial wildfire containment technology, and Sikorsky announced this month at the UP.Summit a collaboration to explore how Sikorsky’s MATRIX™ autonomy suite operating with Rain’s Wildfire Mission Autonomy System can launch uncrewed helicopters to drop water on wildfires within minutes of detection.

“Combining Sikorsky’s demonstrated mature vehicle autonomy system with Rain’s early response capability will show how an uncrewed BLACK HAWK® or FIREHAWK® helicopter can quickly take off, fly to a suspected ignition, and drop water to suppress a wildfire in its incipient stage with no human onboard,” said Rain CEO Maxwell Brodie. ”Ultimately, Rain envisions equipping fire agencies with the capability to strategically position a future fleet of firefighting aircraft capable of receiving and carrying out mission commands.”

“MATRIX executes a full mission plan by taking into account mission goals and constraints, aircraft performance, obstacles, weather, and topography,” said Igor Cherepinsky, Sikorsky Innovations director. “The system is fully integrated with the flight controls, allowing the aircraft to fly with high levels of autonomy in all environmental conditions. MATRIX is just one example, our predictive firefighting Intelligence capabilities being another, of how Lockheed Martin is integrating 21st Century Security technology to help first responders fight wildfires faster and more effectively.”

To date, MATRIX has been tested on 10 different rotary and fixed-wing aircraft and can be applied to existing or new build applications.

Brodie pointed to research showing that a 15-minute reduction in wildfire response times could generate $3.5 to $8.2 billion in economic benefits annually for the state of California alone.

Rain integrates with early wildfire detection networks to rapidly dispatch autonomous aircraft. Onboard the aircraft, the Rain Wildfire Mission Autonomy System identifies and locates wildfire, develops a suppression strategy, and plans flight path and drop timing to enable on-target delivery of suppressant. Throughout operations, the Wildfire Mission Autonomy System shares intelligence and plans, providing firefighters with situational awareness and oversight of the mission to ensure safety and coordination.

Developed for more than a dozen years by Sikorsky Innovations, an advanced engineering group within Sikorsky, the MATRIX system combines a platform-agnostic software and hardware suite, including sensors, to ensure an aircraft flown with reduced crew or uninhabited can fly reliably and safely in low-level and obstacle-rich terrain. Even with no humans on board, an aircraft with the MATRIX system does not require a remote pilot or ground controller to command the mission via datalink, nor waypoints to navigate.

Rain and Sikorsky’s collaboration will demonstrate autonomous capabilities to enable firefighting helicopters to be pre-positioned in remote locations according to wildfire risk. Operating uncrewed, and deployable 24/7, the integrated offering would provide fire agencies the ability to rapidly respond to ignitions in hard-to-access regions in varied terrain, supporting fire agencies with new tools in their mission to prevent catastrophic wildfires in the areas they serve.

This collaborative effort will use Rain’s Wildfire Mission Autonomy System to upload mission commands to Sikorsky’s Optionally Piloted BLACK HAWK helicopter with no crew on board for the fastest response time.

AF 18 | aerialfiremag.com

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Aviation Specialties Unlimited Awarded EASA STCs for Bell 429 Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc. received notification October 23, 2023, from EASA that the company has obtained an STC for the Bell 429.

of STCs available for European operators.” Bell has delvered more that 90 429 aircraft in Europe and more than 430 429s are in operation worldwide.

“Our team has worked closely with EASA for years,” said ASU Vice President of Business Development and experienced instructor pilot Chad St. Francis. “Last year, we were able to announce EASA STCs or the Bell 212, 412, AB212, AB412, and 412EP under a single EASA STC 10078190. STC 10082016 REV.1 adds another Bell aircraft to our portfolio

ASU also holds FAA and EASA STCs for numerous other aircraft. ASU has more than 60 night vision STCs from the FAA, EASA, and other aviation administrations. Join ASU at European Rotors Stand 1009 to discuss your STC requirements, aircraft modification needs, training, and night vision programs.

AF 20 | aerialfiremag.com

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Neptune Aviation to Offer Garmin Avionics Conversion Services Decades of Experience and Full Range of Services Ensure Compliance, Safety and Can Minimize Aircraft Downtime Neptune Aviation announced on October 2nd, 2023, that the company is now an authorized Garmin dealer and can offer its customers Garmin’s line of industry-leading aviation supplies and avionics solutions, including GPS navigation systems, transponders, advanced displays, and other aviation products. Neptune can also deliver comprehensive Garmin services, including system upgrades, technical support and maintenance, aircraft painting, and inspections, making it a one-stop shop for the aviation industry. Having installed Garmin equipment in its own fleet, Neptune has the experience to manage aircraft conversions and by providing ancillary services can help minimize aircraft downtime.

Becoming an authorized Garmin dealer is a significant milestone for the company, according to Jennifer Draughon, President of Neptune Aviation.

“Garmin is the future of the aviation industry, particularly for those seeking to upgrade and extend the life of older aircraft. Securing authorization as a Garmin dealer connects us with the global leader in avionics technology, and we are working aggressively to become the leading Garmin installation, troubleshooting, and consultants in the Western United States. This partnership reinforces our commitment to provide top-tier solutions to our customers and builds on Neptune Aviation’s position as a leader in the aviation industry,” says Draughon.

Neptune Aviation can now offer Garmin products to private aircraft owners, businesses, charter jets, and government agencies. They can also install and service

AF 22 | aerialfiremag.com

Garmin products on any type of aircraft, including helicopters, and experimental craft. Avionics is one of the services offered by the company, supported by a worldclass maintenance group complemented by painting and machine shop capabilities.

Neptune Aviation is staffed with experts trained in Garmin product installation and maintenance.

“At Neptune, we have a team of experts with more than 145 years of experience in avionics. When we install new avionics equipment or service existing systems, our customers will know that their aircraft’s safety is our top priority,” says Christopher Smith, Avionics Manager at Neptune Aviation.

Smith adds that in addition to Garmin, Neptune is also authorized to install and maintain uAvionix, Trig, and BendixKing avionics solutions.

POWERING THROUGH Let’s face it. This job’s not for everyone. Aerial firefighting demands nerves of steel and the power to fly at peak performance. The PT6 turboprop continues to be the engine of choice — built for full-load takeoffs in extreme hot and high environments, all day, every day.

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1 Billion flight hours across general, business & regional aviation, helicopters, and auxiliary power units aerialfiremag.com | AF 23

Wipaire Receives TSO C27A for Wipline Composite C13000S Floats Wipaire announced on October 16, 2023, at this year’s NBAA-BACE that they have received a Technical Standard Order [TSO] C27A approval from the FAA for their Wipline C13000S composite seaplane floats. These floats are for the DHC-6 Twin Otter Series.

“The TSO is the first step of approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for our composite float program.

It validates the design and production data submitted by our development team,” said Brad Kutz, Vice President of Engineering for Wipaire. “We met our goal of reducing weight from the existing Wipline 13000 seaplane floats. From here, we will continue towards FAA approval for installation.”

“We are thrilled to achieve this milestone. We did not just develop a float; we also gained significant composite AF 24 | aerialfiremag.com

expertise, which will support the next generation of our products. I am proud of our engineers and additional team members’ work on this project. I am excited to see us approach the finish line as we embark on flight testing and fine-tuning the fit and finish of this product, leading to the final Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for installation on the Twin Otter,” said Chuck Wiplinger, President and CEO of Wipaire.

What you need to know about the Wipline C13000S Floats • They are made of aerospace grade carbon fiber • This design is for seaplane (straight) floats • Designed to install on a DHC-6 Twin Otter Series with same strut package • First float certified to the recently updated TSO C27A

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aerialfiremag.com | AF 25

Bridger Aerospace Acquires Ignis Technologies to Expand Wildland Fire Software Offerings Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. announced Sept 14th, 2023 that it has acquired Ignis Technologies Inc. (“Ignis”) for $3 million, with an additional contingent earnout consideration of up to $9.0 million, paid in the form of restricted shares of Bridger common stock. Ignis is a fire technology company delivering mission-critical intelligence and technology solutions to firefighting organizations.

“The addition of Ignis maximizes the value of Bridger’s investments in FireTrac and other fire intelligence SaaS assets, and presents the clearest path to executing on our shared mission to equip firefighters with the critical technology they need to reduce the number of lives, properties and natural habitats lost to wildfire,” commented Tim Sheehy, Bridger’s Chief Executive Officer.

Ignis was founded by former wildland firefighters who understand the requirements and the value of real time wildfire information in the field. The company was created out of the urgent need for more effective systems to collect, distribute and communicate actionable intelligence and situational awareness on wildland fires.

Through collaborative development with federal, state and local fire organizations, Ignis is developing a pioneering mobile and web platform that elevates firefighter situational

AF 26 | aerialfiremag.com

awareness, creates an interoperable common operating picture across firefighting units, and produces real time, high value data to help fire organizations better manage wildfire risk.

Terms of the Ignis Transaction: • Ignis was issued $3 million in restricted common stock on the closing date, which will vest in equal increments over a twelve-month period. The price per share issued was based on a historical 30-day volume weighted average price.

• Upon the achievement of certain operational metrics by December 31, 2024, Ignis will be issued an additional $3 million in restricted common stock, which shares will vest in equal increments over a twelve-month period, with the price per share determined based upon a historical 120-day volume weighted average price at the time of issuance.

• Upon the successful completion of certain software integration with FireTrac, Bridger’s proprietary wildfire data management software, Ignis will be issued an additional $2 million in restricted common stock in each of 2024, 2025 and 2026, with the price per share determined based upon a historical 120-day volume weighted average price at the time of each issuance.

AFTER

3,000 MISSIONS

We have retired our Twin Commanders from the Air Attack mission. These aircraft have been an integral part of our company’s journey and have built their legacy by supporting wildland firefighting efforts across the nation. From 2015 to 2023, they completed over 3,000 Air Attack and Fire Mapping missions. aerialfiremag.com | AF 27

Helitak and Rotak Continue Certification Work on CH-47 FT-11K Tank Helitak Firefighting Equipment showed continued progress on the certification of their CH-47 underbelly tank system during recent flight testing currently underway in Arizona the week of October 13th, 2023.

The CH-47 FT-11K tank, was developed in conjunction with launch customer, Rotak Helicopter Services. The FT-11K tank debuted at Heli Expo 2023 in Atlanta and has been conducting flight test evaluation work throughout 2023 AF 28 | aerialfiremag.com

in California, Idaho, and Arizona putting Helitak one step closer to obtaining the STC for the tank which is expected in November of this year.

The 2900-gallon capacity tank will be the only tank on the market capable of holding over 2500 gallons which is the current maximum of existing tanks available for the CH-47.

The FT-11k CH-47 tank will be available with hydraulic and electric pump fill options.

Helitak Firefighting Equipment is an award-winning Australian company based on the Sunshine Coast founded by Engineer and helicopter pilot Jason Schellaars who has with his team designed, built, and certified tanks for multiple helicopters used in aerial firefighting including the UH-60 Black Hawk, Bell medium range, and many other helicopters that are in use with government agencies and private operators worldwide.

Helitak continues to be at the forefront of new tank development with multiple certifications in progress currently for the Sikorsky S-92, Boeing CH-47, AW-119, AS-350, and

recently developing a tank for the Transall C-160 fixed-wing aircraft that is currently being transitioned from military service to civilian firefighting use as a large air tanker for use in Europe and Australia.

The FT-11K tank is the only CH-47 tank fitted externally using Helitak’s signature low-profile tank design that uses an expanding bladder system that allows aircraft with low clearance under the belly of the aircraft to carry a tank with no modifications needed to the structure of the aircraft or the need to raise landing gear.

aerialfiremag.com | AF 29

Black Widow Helicopters and XP Services Inc. Join Forces to Launch New Lima+ Black Hawk In a joint announcement on September 10, 2023, Black Widow Helicopters and XP Services Inc. proudly introduced the next evolution of the Black Hawk: the Lima+. A product of unparalleled experience and innovation, this UH-60 Black Hawk variant is poised to redefine industry benchmarks globally.

Black Hawks have become the industry standard for aerial firefighting and utility operations. The Lima+’s marketing strength is based on the Black Hawk’s over 15 million flight hours and proven safety record, an established legacy support system for the model, and an infusion of upgrades and design changes to the avionics, engines, and mission equipment.

The Lima+, which includes the upgraded -701D engines and IDGB gearbox that gives the Lima+ a 9000 lbs lift capacity, will be standardized with the state of the art, FAA IFR Certified, Genesys NVG digital glass cockpit with HeliSAS autopilot for ease of navigation, a reconfigurable new cabin that accommodates up to 13 occupants and their equipment during emergency operations and it will also be equipped with the Aerometals Inlet Barrier Filter as well as the lightweight exhaust system and the GPMS Foresight Predictive HUMS. The integrated health monitoring system (HUMS), could give operators a significant advantage in maximizing dispatchability while minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. After each flight, accurate diagnostics and early problem detection is available, enabling preventive maintenance measures to be taken before any catastrophic failures can occur.

Offered in three distinct build models – Commercial Utility, Public Safety, and MILSPEC, the Lima+ ensures adaptability, tailoring each build to mission-specific requirements.

“The UH-60 is a rugged and reliable platform for military and special mission operators and bringing these legacy aircraft out of military retirement and adding the latest innovation has to offer by adding capabilities like three-axis autopilot, synthetic vision (SV), highway in the sky (HITS), AF 30 | aerialfiremag.com

improved datalink weather, or localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches, extends their utility and reliability to a level on par with — if not better than — new helicopters” said Rod Allison, CEO of XP Services.

The significant improvements of the Lima+ variant will make it better at all of those missions while also easier on the pilot workload. The Lima+ will be type-certified with XP Services for commercial restricted category operators.

“We are thrilled to bring an industry-leading and costeffective upgrade to the Black Hawk which the market has been demanding for quite some time,” said Todd Dunphy, Chief Operating Officer of Black Widow Helicopters.

“We will be displaying a Lima+ technology demonstrator at HAI 2024 in Anaheim, CA. Together with XP Services and Primehawx, we are ready to build Lima+ models immediately as we have a fleet of 28 Sikorsky UH-60L available for modifications” Dunphy continued.

With the Lima+, the iconic Black Hawk seamlessly transitions into the 21st Century, exemplifying the perfect marriage of heritage and innovation.

The Lima+ will be built and modified with custom mission configurations in Tullahoma, Tennessee, and Camarillo, California.

aerialfiremag.com | AF 31

California Air Guard Mobilized for Aerial Firefighting

by Master Sgt. Nicholas Carzis, 146 Airlift Wing, Public Affairs, California Air National Guard Two C-130J Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systemequipped aircraft assigned to the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing and the Air Force Reserve’s 302nd Airlift Wing, Colorado Springs, are mobilizing to Klamath Falls Airtanker Base in Oregon to help fight wildfires.

First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), U.S. Northern Command’s Air Component Command, oversees the Department of Defense aerial firefighting MAFFS program, which offers a “surge” capability to the U.S. Forest Service.

The increase in major fires prompted the request for continued MAFFS assets. More than 20,400 personnel are supporting 58 of the active large wildland fires across the continental United States.

The 302AW and the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing delivered the first aerial firefighting sorties in early August with the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing then rotated in to replace maintenance and aircrews supporting the MAFFS mission.

As of Aug. 30, all four of the U.S. Air Force’s component MAFFS wings, including the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing, will have traversed to Klamath Falls Airtanker Base to support wildfire suppression during the MAFFS program’s 50th anniversary.

AF 32 | aerialfiremag.com

MAFFS has dropped more than 161,000 gallons of fire retardant in over 60 aerial firefighting sorties this fire season.

Col. Christopher F. Dougherty, commander of the 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, says his wing is always ready to support wildfire suppression efforts.

“The enduring partnership between the U.S. Forest Service, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve is truly special,” he said. “Our unwavering commitment to supporting the people of our states and nation in times of natural disaster has been demonstrated repeatedly over the past 50 years and will continue well into the future.”

For those 50 years, the DOD has chosen the military C-130 to support the MAFFS mission. The C-130 Hercules aircraft assigned to the MAFFS program can drop up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than 10 seconds across a quarter-mile line. The system slides into the back of the military aircraft, and retardant is released through a nozzle on the rear left side.

MAFFS aircraft are only activated when all commercial airtankers that are part of the national airtanker fleet are fully committed or not readily available.

The National Interagency Fire Center is the nation’s support center for wildland firefighting. Agencies and organizations that are part of NIFC include the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Weather Service, U.S. Fire Administration, National Association of State Foresters, and state emergency response agencies.

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Learn More aerialfiremag.com | AF 33

Louisiana Guard Aviation Assets Drop Over 1 Million Gallons of Water to Combat Wildfires

by Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office Since Louisiana National Guard aviation assets began waterdrop missions on August 23, 2023, LANG and Emergency Management Assistance Compact helicopter crews have dropped more than 1.1 million gallons of water in support of the effort to combat wildfires that have affected several parishes in western Louisiana.

As with any state of emergency, the LANG is prepared to provide support to civilian authorities throughout Louisiana to protect key assets and ensure the health and public safety of the citizens of Louisiana.

LANG and EMAC helicopter crews are continuing their mission of water-drop operations in Beauregard, Sabine, and Vernon Parishes in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s office, and local agencies in fighting the wildfires in the region.

The helicopter crews have utilized bambi buckets, which allow them to draw water from any open water source in extremely remote locations, to carry and drop water onto fires. The versatility of the helicopter and bambi bucket combination allows crews to maximize the number of water drops performed during their on-station time.

AF 34 | aerialfiremag.com

The augmentation to the LANG aerial firefighting efforts, through EMAC support from the Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas National Guard, has resulted in a rotation of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and CH-47 Chinook helicopters that have provided over 385 flight hours of aid from the time LANG assets were activated in response to the wildfires.

LANG and EMAC Soldiers are anticipated to accumulate record statistics for Louisiana as they continue to support efforts towards these relief efforts.

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conair.ca aerialfiremag.com | AF 35

DART and United Rotorcraft Partner for Aerial Firefighting Innovation DART Aerospace announced on October 18th, 2023, at the Aerial Firefighting Europe show, a new partnership with United Rotorcraft, aimed at the development of an advanced aerial firefighting system tailored for the Airbus Super Puma family of helicopters.

The new aerial firefighting system will consist of a fixed, external belly-mounted water tank with a capacity of 4000L (1056 gal) and system controls located in the cockpit.

United Rotorcraft will also develop multi-mission equipment packages to extend the year-round value of the helicopter platform for operator-specific requirements. A key objective includes certification by FAA, EASA, and Transport Canada Supplemental Type Certificates (STC).

“This partnership solidifies DART’s position as a leader in the helicopter mission equipment industry. Together, United Rotorcraft and DART are reaffirming our commitment to delivering superior solutions to the firefighting market”, stated Alain Madore, President of DART Aerospace.

“Our purpose at United Rotorcraft is to provide emergency responders the tools needed to save lives and

AF 36 | aerialfiremag.com

protect property and the environment—something that we share at our core with DART Aerospace,” said United Rotorcraft President Larry Alexandre. “We are excited to be partnering with such a driven leader in the world of aviation to bring further innovation and versatility to the global aerial firefighting community by adding to our existing product portfolio.”

Currently, the companies leverage their experience in producing similar aerial firefighting capabilities for other Type 1 helicopters. The new Super Puma system, an extension of their aerial firefighting solution portfolios, will provide the market with crucial wildfire attack capability for Type 1 rotorcraft, where there is an estimated 25% capacity gap globally. With this long-term agreement, the team will identify and meet additional market requirements with a type-certified aerial firefighting system for operators of the Super Puma helicopter family, including new and legacy Airbus H225 and AS332 aircraft. Targeted end users include government agencies and commercial operators worldwide, requiring a highly effective multi-mission solution.

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www.spidertracks.com aerialfiremag.com | AF 37

Improving Data for Aerial Firefighters

by Bethany Patch A collaborative research project is improving the data used by aerial firefighters to find nearby water sources.

During active bushfires, aerial firefighting units are dispatched by members of the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC).

NAFC members use a variety of data sources to find suitable nearby water sources for firefighting helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. It is critical for effective decision-making that the most current and accurate data about the location of water is available as quickly as possible.

The Identifying Water Sources For Aerial Firefighting project is a collaboration between NAFC/AFAC, Natural Hazards Research Australia, Geoscience Australia (GA) and FrontierSI that is improving the reliability and clarity of information about water bodies by adding recently observed water and currency attributes to datasets used by firefighters.

CEO of Natural Hazards Research Australia Andrew Gissing highlighted the benefit of collaborative research when advancing Australia’s bushfire planning technology.

“This project is a great example of ways we can work together to serve emergency management and the community through high-impact research,” he said. “The project team from Natural Hazards Research Australia, NAFC, GA and FrontierSI has delivered new scientific knowledge that’s actionable and useful in keeping our communities safe from bushfire.”

The first phase of this project – now complete – focused on extending an earlier proof-of-concept project developed through the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. A workshop in February 2023 gathered perspectives from several key AF 38 | aerialfiremag.com

emergency management agencies across Australia about the ways they currently use waterbody datasets and how these datasets might be improved for bushfire pre-planning decisions.

Users provided insights into new information and software requirements, operational suitability and additional waterbody attributes (such as waterbody features, dataset currency, surrounding environment and biosecurity risks) that would strengthen the relevance and accuracy of existing waterbody datasets.

Following this, the project team (managed by Anthony Gallacher at NAFC) delivered a method to augment GA’s Digital Earth Australia satellite-based data products with the latest water availability information to meet NAFC’s needs.

This significantly improves the accuracy of agencies’ knowledge about nearby water and provides critical support to disaster management planning to facilitate rapid and effective bushfire response. In the past, data about nearby waterbodies might have been months or years old, but now this information is updated regularly and can be easily accessed.

The new system: • identifies aircraft-accessible waterbodies • contributes to aircraft selection and allocation based on access to water • contributes to efficient use of aircraft • provides information to air desks, air bases and air crews to help their situational awareness and decisionmaking.

Reprinted with permission from Asia Pacific Fire Magazine.

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Visit FortressFRS.com to learn more.

aerialfiremag.com | AF 39

During the spring and summer of 2023, a concerned world watched as Canada burned. Toxic smoke from 29 mega-fires, each exceeding 100,000 hectares in size, smothered cities across the country, reached across the border into the U.S., impacting millions of American lives, and, eventually, travelled as far as Norway.

By the time September came, more than 6,000 fires had devoured 16.5 million hectares of land – nearly twice the size of Portugal. Dismay, at records being broken and never-before statistics accumulating, was AF 40 | aerialfiremag.com

tempered as officials looked optimistically to the coming rainy season to help douse the fires.

But, despite cooler fall weather, the fires kept burning – helping to validate some experts who believe, that, there will be no more fire “seasons,” only fire years.

By the middle of October, evacuation notices were still being issued due to fires encroaching on populated areas and it became clear that some fires would likely burn throughout the winter in a country known for its frigid temperatures, ice, and snow.

Will Increased Risk Bring Canada’s Air Force into the Aerial Wildfire Fight?

by Nancy Argyle

Locally, in small Canadian towns and large cities alike, some questioned the firefighting strategy used by wildfire agencies. Cities were choked with the worst air quality on the planet while other areas endured significant losses through property destruction and impacts to livelihoods. On social media, armchair critics were plentiful along with numerous messages of gratitude and support for firefighters.

Of course, the big question on everyone’s mind was whether this season was a one-off perfect firestorm of

factors or whether 2023 was a harbinger of things to come.

As Canada experienced its warmest May to July period in more than 80 years, southern Quebec burst into flames, burning more land than in the previous 20 years combined. According to a World Weather Attribution study, wildfire-prone weather conditions in Quebec were 50 percent more intense this year over previous years. In other words, buckle up because the wild ride that 2023 fires produced could become the new norm. ➤ aerialfiremag.com | AF 41

Wildfires Cause Substantial Harm to People and Animals As the second largest country in the world and home to 30% of the world’s forests, Canada has more than a few trees – trees that have been experiencing drought and higher than normal temperatures for some time now. Drought-stressed trees are far less resistant to fire and can contribute to more extreme fire behavior. Combined with non-typical weather patterns, the stage was set to make these severe wildfires more frequent.

As the 2023 fires unfolded, provincial wildfire agencies across Canada realized that they needed more resources and reached out to mutual aid partners and the international wildfire fighting community. Nearly a dozen countries responded sending firefighters from the United States, Mexico, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Costa Rica, Spain, South Africa, and Korea. This is a common strategy which, in some cases, sees Canada sending its firefighters to help other countries in need.

Despite the influx of help, many believed it was not enough.

There were not enough aircraft, not enough pilots, and not enough boots on the ground. Wind and lightening storms created chaos at every turn and the season dragged on mercilessly with fire after fire. At times, firefighters made spectacular saves – successfully stopping the flames, at the last minute, as they approached a home’s patio furniture in one example. At other times, firefighters retreated to a safe location as homes were engulfed.

The losses mounted and the harm increased as communities expressed their lack of trust and a feeling of being let down.

Told to evacuate, some felt compelled to stay since they knew there would be very little resources available to help save their homes. At times, interactions became tense between the RCMP (police), wildfire managers and the public. Insufficient resources were clearly impacting public safety in more ways than one.

The Role of Military Helicopters in Wildfires In British Columbia (B.C.), a Canadian province that hugs the Pacific coastline and boasts jaw-dropping mountain ranges, crystal white sandy beaches and dense lush forests, the government wildfire service is both well-trained and very experienced in dealing with massive wildfires. Even so, that didn’t prevent an independent review from being ordered to assess the 2023 firefighting effort – a review that was first demanded by local officials from B.C. fire-ravaged communities.

B.C.’s wildfire crisis arrived decades earlier than experts forecast, with the province seeing its four worst-ever fire AF 42 | aerialfiremag.com

seasons in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023. In the case of 2023, the numbers were staggering and amounted to the most destructive and costly of all fire seasons with 25,000 sq. kilometres burned at a cost of $770 million to fight (a final tally for the 2023/24 fiscal year is expected to reach $966 million).

With significant public outcry and media coverage, the loss of public confidence in some communities was clear.

What was less clear is that Canada still had one resource that provinces, like B.C., could have used if it had been available – a military option that more than 50 other countries, including the USA, the United Kingdom and many parts of Europe and South America, already used in their firefighting strategy – but, mystifyingly, one that Canada didn’t.

To be fair, it was only in the last couple of years that anyone realized how many military forces around the globe were used as an aerial wildfire resource – a fact that was revealed when the manufacturer of the Bambi Bucket, SEI Industries, decided to survey their international dealers to find out who was buying their product.

For more than 40 years, the Bambi Bucket has captured 90% of the world market share and become a muchvalued tool in the aerial firefighting arsenal but it still came as a bit of a surprise to learn that more than 50 military forces had decided to equip their fleets with Bambi Buckets, allowing them to participate as a muchneeded resource in fighting wildfires. While countries use this option in different ways (some as surge capacity, some as first response until commercial operators arrived), the result is the same – an instant boost to the number of aircraft working a fire.

Although Canada’s military helicopters often deploy to wildfires to assist with the movement of people and equipment, the aircraft do not actually fly any firefighting missions. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), with its fleet of more than 100 capable and proven helicopters, are not equipped with Bambi Buckets, or any other kind of fire suppression capability that could help civilian authorities in emergencies. Ironically, the Bambi Bucket is 100% Canadian, having been invented and manufactured in B.C. since its inception.

“At present, we have one untapped resource, namely 100 military helicopters, that could become an option of last resort. Sadly, Canada is behind 50 other countries who have already taken advantage of that option,” says Paul Reichard, remote site division manager at SEI Industries. ➤

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The Value of Surge Capacity In the U.S., California has engaged the state’s military program, the California National Guard (CNG), in its wildland fire operations for several decades.

Dan Reese, former CAL FIRE deputy chief (retired) of tactical air operations, says the aircraft from CNG are mission-tasked through the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) upon request from CAL FIRE. “This typically occurs when all other assets have been depleted, where the CNG aircraft and crews are needed to provide a surge capacity,” he notes.

AF 44 | aerialfiremag.com

CAL FIRE is the agency responsible for training, staffing, and outfitting the CNG for the wildfire mission which entails the use of Bambi Buckets.

“During my tenure, the Bambi Bucket was the mainstay of CAL FIRE’s helicopter fleet and was a natural, proven selection to provide the CNG. The evolution and options available for the Bambi Bucket made it an easy fit for the CNG fleet, comprised of LUH-72s, UH-60s and CH-47s,” says Reese.

CAL FIRE staffs the CNG helicopters with experienced aerial firefighters, who annually qualify and train with the CNG crews for all mission sets. This annual training incorporates bucket operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting procedures to ensure seamless operations. Various bucket configurations are used including those with Torrentula valves and those with snorkels to assist in shallow water dips. Using Bambi Buckets with valves allows pilots to titrate the volume being lifted so that more volume can be handled as fuel is burned off. ➤

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“As surge capacity, there were many occasions where the CNG aircraft were the only ones available for fires and for staffing of vacant heli-bases to engage in initial attack operations,” says Reese. “It was not uncommon for me to hear from other agencies and my own about the effectiveness of these crews.”

Armed with the knowledge that the military option works very successfully in other countries, SEI Industries has contacted numerous government officials, both provincially and federally, to propose that Canada consider doing the same.

“With the utmost respect for all that our military pilots already do, we hope our proposed idea of integrating them into wildfire fighting as surge capacity will act as a catalyst to better protect communities and natural resources as well as, hopefully, increase recruitment and AF 46 | aerialfiremag.com

support for the RCAF,” says Robin Cnudde, a regional manager with SEI Industries.

With a worldwide shortage of pilots, the military option not only provides aircraft but also pilots as well. During the explosive 2023 B.C. fire season, many commercial pilots were already sitting out monthly duty time restrictions by June – very early in the fire season. While commercial operators and machines sat at idle waiting for the clock to start over, military aircraft could have been working the fires in their place.

And, when two ferocious urban interface wildfires blew up in B.C.’s Okanagan and Shuswap areas, destroying nearly 400 homes, it’s a safe bet that civilian officials and residents would have celebrated the arrival of any military helicopters, equipped and ready to engage in the firefight.

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Bridger Aerospace Successful in Bid to Acquire Four Spanish Super Scoopers, Expanding Operations into Europe Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. announced September 20th, 2023, that it successfully bid via a public tender process to purchase four Canadair CL-215T Amphibious Aircraft from the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. The addition of the Spanish aircraft to Bridger’s existing Scooper fleet increases Bridger’s Scooper fleet to 10 Scoopers, making Bridger the largest private owner of CL-215T/415 Super Scoopers in the world. Additionally, with the anticipated closing of the acquisition of Bighorn Airways, Inc. in 2023, Bridger’s total wildfire fighting fleet will consist of 32 planes.

“Bridger’s mission is to save lives and fight fires wherever they occur, and growing our water bombing fleet by 66% gives us the ability to protect more communities globally against the growing threat of wildfires,” commented Tim Sheehy, Bridger’s Chief Executive Officer. “We hope to have the first two Scooper aircraft available for the 2024 fire season, with the additional Scooper aircraft available as soon as upgrades are made to those airframes, and we look forward to supporting efforts to provide wildfire protection to European communities.”

Per the terms of the tender, Bridger will purchase the four Scoopers from the Spanish government for €40 million, and AF 48 | aerialfiremag.com

the closing of the acquisition will occur in accordance with the Spanish public tender process.

“With the scarcity of aerial firefighting assets at an all-time high, this purchase represents a strategic and transformative step for Bridger and the global firefighting market as a whole. We have seen rising demand for our Scoopers internationally in recent years, and we look forward to deploying these assets globally,” added Sheehy.

The CL-215T/415 Super Scooper is the safest, most costeffective and only purpose-built aerial firefighting asset in the world. The amphibious aircraft skims the surface of a body of water to scoop water into onboard tanks to drop on a fire. The purposeful design of the Super Scooper allows for an aggressive low-altitude flight profile, which enables pilots to deliver their drops with more precision, hitting the fire harder and extinguishing it faster. Super Scoopers can scoop up to 1,412 gallons of water in approximately 10 seconds and, with 90% of wildfires within 20 miles of a major water source, Super Scoopers provide an extremely effective tool to economically and expeditiously deliver water to a fire without having to return to an airport to refill the water tanks.

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Aerial Firefighting Europe 2023 Greece Shines

by Ryan Mason, Photos by John Pitsakis

The third installment for the year of the Tangent Link Aerial Firefighting show was held in Lagonissi, Greece, on October 17 and 18, 2023, bringing industry professionals from Europe together with over fifty vendors to form the conference and trade show portion of this year’s Greece show held just outside of Athens at the picturesque Grand Resort Lagonissi.

Tangent Link, as organizers, put together yet another stellar event hosted on the Mediterranean beaches surrounding AF 50 | aerialfiremag.com

the resort. Attendees were in high spirits during the opening reception sponsored by AerialFire overlooking the sunset in Lagonissi. The mood continued through day one as the opening address commenced, given by event chair Lieutenant Colonel Zisoula Ntasiou, Duty Officer Unit 2, National Coordination Center for Operations & Crisis Management, Hellenic Fire Service, Greece & Professor Dr. Johann Goldammer, Director, Global Fire Monitoring Center, Germany to a packed conference room of industry professionals.

The conference portion of the event remained packed throughout the show as dozens of presenters provided valuable content focusing on critical topics that affect the firefighting fraternity throughout Europe and the world through three sessions.

Day one concluded with a demonstration of the abilities of the S-64 Erickson Air Crane in front of all conference attendees as the aircraft performed multiple drops in front

of a wowed crowd, some of whom had never seen the Air Crane in action live. Erickson works as a key international provider of firefighting services, providing ten Air Cranes for firefighting operations in Greece annually. Greece suffered one of its most devastating fire seasons in 2023, spiking an increase in foreign aircraft usage nationwide.

Day two saw many vendor visits and interest on the trade floor from attendees meeting with dozens of vendors. ➤ aerialfiremag.com | AF 51

At the same time, the conference entered its second day of multiple sessions that continued to offer valuable learning opportunities for attendees and continued interest from attendees on the trade show floor—the second and final day concluded with the event dinner, where those in attendance were given a presentation from X-Prize, an initiative to develop further firefighting technology to improve global firefighting response before dancing the night away.

“The global AFF mission is evolving rapidly in a multidimensional way. The mission and need are growing rapidly, structural shortages in critical areas need to be addressed, and new technologies are offering significant AF 52 | aerialfiremag.com

mission enhancements. Against this backdrop, Agencies and regulatory bodies are working hard to manage these needs and challenges. The Tangent Link global AFF series has the goal of supporting all stakeholders in their critical missions, and providing an environment for learning, collaboration and enhanced outcomes”. stated John Longhurst, CEO of Tangent Link.

Despite having triple the workload of previous years, the Tangent Link team delivered yet another stellar event in Greece.

Those in attendance will undoubtedly be looking forward to the next installment of the Aerial Firefighting Americas show in Sacramento, California, March 6-8, 2024.

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RAMIFICATIONS OF THE MUNDANE How Good Crew Resource Management Catches Errors Before Harm Can Occur

By Nat Drew Nervous excitement abounds as training has commenced for the Aerial Incendiary Operations Supervisors and today is the first day in the air, with a focus on mission pattern and team resource management. As the crisp autumn wind rages around me, I regret not wearing an additional thermal layer. Distracted by the cold, I wiggle my fingers to get my blood to circulate down to my fingertips. I need the dexterity to be able to operate the three cameras I have resting in my lap and fastened to my person.

Securely strapped into the seat where the incendiary machine would typically sit, I am posed, ready to capture all the action.

Coming up to the crest of the hills, the helicopter banks slightly to the left as I raise my hands to the camera, ready to capture all the action about to unfold before me. With the doors off, the noise of the rotors and wind is deafening. As we turn the treetops engulf my view and I am dazzled by their rich array of colors, when suddenly, I am overcome with a complete sense of dread. Perplexed by this feeling, I search for meaning….the reason, which I quickly find, as I see my seat belt is undone. I am no longer secured to the aircraft.

The gentle turn gazing at the autumn leaves below now feels like a rally car slamming into a 90-degree bend.

I fumble around with numb fingers attempting to reconnect the seatbelt back together. In what felt like an eternity, but was just mere seconds, I finally clipped back in. I dart my eyes around the cockpit to see if anyone has noticed my mistake. Am I about to be reprimanded or worse…. ridiculed? Luckily, everyone was concentrating on the mission and no one noticed my mishap.

As we duck down between the hills, the pilot looks over his shoulder to the crew and begins to discuss the mission objectives with the incident supervisor. Again, I raise my hands to the camera, ready to capture all the action. As I lock eyes with the pilot I am again flooded with a sensation of complete dread. My seat belt has disconnected again.

Wide-eyed in horror I motion to the pilot as he steadies the aircraft. I frantically fumble for the seatbelt connectors, but the cold wind and the gasping stares of the crew delay my fine motor skills as the metal ends thrash against the frame of the helicopter.

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I requested the pilot to find a place to land, one instance of the seatbelt coming unfastened was unusual, but twice.

What on earth is going on?

As aviators, we have all been hit over the head by James Reason with his Swiss Cheese model for explaining human failure. Generally, it isn’t just one error/violation that leads to an accident, injury, or death; it’s a sequence of errors, lapses, or violations that, when all lined up in a fatal order, create the perfect environment for one to slip through. Watch any program on aircraft investigation and we see that small, mundane errors line up to cascade into a perfect domino – that can bring down the highest of tech, the biggest of dollars, and the uppermost of skills.

Aircraft accident report history is lined with fallen iPads, a fractured bolt, a piece of poorly placed tape, or simple miscommunication.

Having landed in a grass paddock I assess the situation.

Every time I raise my left arm up to my camera, the seat belt comes undone, but why? Earlier that day my colleague had fitted a 360 camera into the cockpit and hit record – we wanted the students to review footage of their mission so that they could see where they could improve. That now seems irrelevant. What I want to know is why was this helicopter so keen to spit me out.

I press play on the footage and the culprit is revealed. It’s me! Well, more accurately the sleeve of my fire jacket. As I raise my hands to the camera the cuff of the jacket gets hooked in the flap of the seat belt, raising it up and setting me “free” (a feeling that is magnified flying without doors).

Reflecting back to Team Resource Management it occurred to me that the holes in the cheese were lining up…Doors off, full aircraft, banking turn, the flapping cuff on my shirt, leading to an undone seat belt. This was all that was holding me back from the brink of eternal nothingness, something as mundane as the cuff of my sleeve. If a few more holes in the Swiss cheese had lined up I could have found myself in a short and sharp freefall.

Back at base, I shared the experience with those around me – people with decades of expertise, experience, and training, and it became apparent that this wasn’t an isolated experience. ➤

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Others shared similar occurrences of seat belts coming loose by mistake.

What did you do? Did you report it? Was it reviewed? Why was it happening? - I asked.

Back to the Swiss cheese with James. We see that an organization’s defenses against failure or errors are represented by the individual slices of cheese.

The holes in the cheese represent potential weaknesses or failure points. The system produces failures when all the holes in all the slices momentarily align, enabling the ‘error’ to pass straight through.

For one reason or another, my colleagues each hadn’t reported or actioned it.

In another life, I worked as a Registered Nurse. As a new graduate, the unit manager once said to me “You’re a human, you will make mistakes. The mistake isn’t the problem, it’s when you cover it up or keep repeating it, that’s the problem”.

In nursing, as in aviation, small mistakes can have ramifications if they are not exposed. I didn’t speak up the first time it happened as I was embarrassed. Others hadn’t acted on it in the past as the problem is quickly fixed (and much more a non-event when the doors are on).

All humans will make mistakes. Highly trained and competent people still make mistakes. Human error will occur.

So how gracious will the universe be with me in the future?

Will I always be provided the time and opportunity to learn from my errors and faults?

When disaster could happen in an instant, crews need to be able to recognize when the holes start to appear. The quick communication of these ‘holes’ is essential so that an AF 62 | aerialfiremag.com

appropriate action can occur. Even when you cannot put a label or name to the issue, if something feels off, such as a ‘sensation of complete dread’ – we need to ‘recognize trigger feelings and language’ as signs of potential harm so that we can divert to a safe location in which we can analyze the situation and react in an appropriate manner to fix the issue.

Nat Drew is a former nurse and current aviation professional working in a government operation in Australia who also writes about her aviation experience and aviation safety topics.

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Lowest Price Technically Acceptable Perspectives from Both Sides and How We Move Forward Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) is a government contracting method in which the award is made to the bidder with the lowest price that meets the government’s technical requirements. LPTA is increasingly being used by civilian agencies, but it is not without its challenges.

Government Perspective “The lowest bidder is not always the best choice, but it is often the easiest choice.” - The Government Finance Officers Association The Forest Service (FS) and Department of Interior (DoI) are using LPTA more often because not only is it is a way to deal with the limited funds available for “preparedness” contracts provided by Congress, but it also reduces the complexity of the procurement process. Best Value evaluations require technical experts with the knowledge and availability to document the strengths and weaknesses of each proposal.

It also requires forethought on the tradeoffs the government is willing to make to pay a higher (or lower) price. An LPTA evaluation is relatively easy to execute, typically with go/no factors on technical requirements and often with no review of price other than reasonableness (which is determining that a price is not too high).

The key to LPTA being successful is making sure that the technical requirements have been defined to reflect the minimum requirements the government needs. While many often think this is the bottom of the barrel, it should be just the opposite. The idea with LPTA is that bidders are AF 64 | aerialfiremag.com

providing the same equipment capability, level of service and performance. Contractors who are poor performers or who don’t have the right equipment shouldn’t meet the government’s technical requirements if they are written correctly. Think of it as going to multiple car dealers to buy the same type (SUV), size (mid) and trim level (leather and mobile-phone compatibility) for a car so you can buy from whomever will give you the best price.

Basically, the simplicity and low protest risk make it an attractive option for agencies with limited procurement resources. In addition, recent audit findings have shown that the Forest Service’s historical contracting processes are not entirely compliant with today’s regulations and awarding contracts using LPTA is a solution to those problems as well. ➤

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Industry Perspective “The lowest bidder is not always the best contractor.

Sometimes, the lowest bidder is the least experienced, the least qualified, or the least capable.” - The U.S. Government Accountability Office Industry is concerned that LPTA can lead to lower quality products and services, giving the industry a bad reputation and putting safety at risk. This is because companies may be tempted to cut corners on quality to offer the lowest price. The aerial firefighting industry has been through tough times over the years due to incidents and no one wants to replicate what’s happened in the past. They see LPTA as “encouraging” poor maintenance and training practices to get a contract.

Additionally, LPTA can make it difficult for new entrants or even seasoned companies to compete, as these companies may not be able to offer the lowest prices when there are no guarantees that there will be work.

Contractors who do not have exclusive use contracts must spend significant amounts of money to maintain their aircraft and pilot readiness for a call that may never come. These costs are not reimbursed by the government and can’t usually be covered by other customers because the government IS the only customer. LPTA can make it difficult for companies to make a profit or even cover fixed costs, as they may be forced to bid at unsustainable prices to win contracts. Reducing competition is not typically an outcome the government is looking for when using LPTA, but in the aerial fire industry, it’s a looming possibility.

How to Move Forward “The lowest bidder is not always the best way to get the best value for your money. Government agencies need to consider all of their options and make the best decision for their taxpayers.” - Anonymous AF 66 | aerialfiremag.com

There are a few steps that can be taken to address the concerns about LPTA:

Government Use price realism in the evaluation of proposals, even when using LPTA. This means considering the cost of meeting the government’s technical requirements, as well as the cost of any other factors that are important to the agency, such as quality, performance, and risk. This requires the government to understand what the actual costs are, not to just compare what price was paid previously. Proposals that have unrealistic prices can be removed from consideration, even in LPTA. Allow for more flexibility in the technical requirements, so that contractors can offer innovative solutions that may be more expensive but also more beneficial to the government.

For example, an agency could allow contractors to propose alternative technical solutions that meet the agency’s needs in a different way.

Allow for more flexibility in pricing. Contracts that require a contractor to be ready to provide service at short notice with no guarantees does have a cost, so including a certain number of flight hours in the availability rate or even allowing different rates when minimums are met could save the government in the long run and provide more stability for the contractor.

Invest in training and resources for staff who create requirements, evaluate proposals, and oversee contractors’ performance. This will help them better define the technical requirements and to evaluate proposals more effectively.

Work with industry to develop performance-based contracts.

This type of contract rewards contractors for meeting specific performance goals, rather than simply for meeting the government’s minimum technical requirements.

Develop a more comprehensive understanding of the marketplace. This will help the government to set realistic technical requirements and to understand the costs of meeting those requirements. A contract must cover a contractor’s fixed costs if the contractor has any hope of remaining in business.

Industry Be more transparent and vocal about pricing. Contractors should be willing to explain the factors that are driving their prices and to justify their pricing decisions to the government. Insist on inflation indexing for items other than fuel and make sure wage determinations and resulting rates are updated, as allowable.

Work with the government to develop innovative solutions that meet the government’s needs. This may involve collaborating with other companies or proposing alternative technical solutions.

Participate in industry associations and government initiatives that are working to improve the quality of government contracting. For example, the United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA) has a Government and Industry Advisory Committee that works to address the concerns of members. It includes members of the industry and the government.

Form partnerships with other companies. This can help companies to reduce costs and to offer more innovative solutions to the government.

In the end, aerial firefighters and the government want the same thing-to support the firefighter on the ground. By working together, the government and industry can develop a contracting process that is fair, efficient, and effective.

This will help to ensure that the government is getting the best value for its taxpayer dollars and that industry is able to support the mission, provide good paying jobs in rural areas, and innovate.

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New EO/IR Capabilities Elevate Airborne Missions

By Larry Krieg, Director of Sales, Teledyne FLIR Airborne surveillance missions span a wide range of activities, from search and rescue and high-speed pursuit, to maritime patrols and fighting wildfires. Regardless of the environment, operators still have an overriding need to ‘see’ more (but without data overload) and act faster. As technology grows, operators expect their EO/IR systems to push the envelope in terms of image clarity, target tracking, and more, in order to save lives and protect communities.

How can operators do more and expedite critical decisions without encountering information overload? It was important to our customers that Teledyne FLIR Defense provide a path forward for them to adapt new technology without replacing their legacy 380 series equipment.

a single LRU and is available in our Star SAFIRE 380-HD and 380-HDc systems. These intelligent imaging features are also available as a hardware, firmware, and software upgrade to an existing 380-HD or 380-HDc system. Its impressive enhancements reduce operator workload and boost visibility for faster, and smarter, critical-decision making.

Some of the key advanced imaging capabilities the 380X provides operators include: •

Better Clarity: Operators can see more details with the 380X’s de-scintillation filter that removes atmospheric effects to reveal fine details otherwise hard to detect— such as deciphering objects on the ground or details on a building

•

Multiple Video Management: This feature allows operators to view multiple video sources simultaneously,

That’s where the new Star SAFIRE® 380X comes in.

The 380X provides advanced image aiding capabilities in

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including all camera payloads, plus external video input—for example, allowing the air unit to have a livefeed of a secondary visual from a drone •

•

New User Interface: Operators can now navigate menus with customizable icon-based graphics to expedite inputs when needed Improved Targeting: The 380X enhancement has a Moving Target Indicator (MTI) which helps identify threats earlier and more definitively, alongside advanced auto tracking (AAT)

The 380X builds upon the pedigree of our Star SAFIRE gimbal systems, which for years have provided superior image stabilization and ultra-long-range imaging performance for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), law enforcement (LE), search and rescue (SAR), border patrol, maritime patrol, force protection, and airborne firefighting missions.

For airborne firefighting, being able to see through smoke is critical. The InfraRed (IR) sensor of the 380X allows operators to see what smoke typically obscures in an EO payload. Observing fires moving in real-time from the air can be the difference when it comes to directing ground

firefighters – who need to get into the incident, and leadership – who need data to make real-time decisions. In addition to IR, the Short-Wave InfraRed (SWIR) sensor not only sees through smoke but minimizes the “blooming” that can occur close to flames with even a standard IR sensor due to the excessive heat present.

Our de-scintillation filter also removes atmospheric obscurants adding additional clarity and resolution to the sensor. The system also integrates perfectly with airborne moving map and ARS systems to generate fire maps. Fire lines can be traced through smoke at a safe distance and downlinked to incident command instantly for real-time actionable information.

The combination of standard IR and SWIR of the 380X, with long-range optics delivers the ideal combination for the most efficient and effective airborne firefighting mission.

Whatever the mission, whatever the environment, airborne surveillance teams continue to depend on the advanced capabilities of Teledyne FLIR Defense imaging systems to help them cut through the noise, sharpen their focus, and expedite decision-making that can often save lives—and we remain committed to their missions, and everyone in the air, and on the ground, each day.

aerialfiremag.com | AF 69

Tiger Performance From Racing to Aircraft From celebrating its 25th anniversary in business, the story of Tiger Performance as a safety and communications products supplier for the aviation and marine industries differs from your typical origin story.

Founded in 1999, Tiger Performance was founded by Sonny and Tina Hawkins to fill a market need they had identified while competing in the dangerous sport of Offshore powerboat racing. During an 18-year successful powerboat racing career, Sonny identified several critical areas where safety improvements needed to be addressed as the World and USA governing bodies started to address safety concerns after several fatal accidents on the racing circuits.

Not finding a suitable helmet in the marine world that would address multiple needs such as head protection, communications, and the ability to attach rescue breathing equipment in the event of a crash, Sonny looked towards the aviation industry to see if any options would suit the racing community. It was at that point Tiger Performance was founded.

Quickly, after identifying a helmet that would suit the needs of the powerboat racing industry, Sonny struck a worldwide dealer agreement with a company at the time called CGF, the French helmet manufacturer offering the LH050 and LH250 helicopter helmets and the LA100 Jet Pilot helmet.

Sonny began marketing to the Worldwide powerboat racing community for all racing categories, bringing an aviation

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helmet designed for pilots into the marine environment for the first time. The CGF compact and lightweight helmets provided for the ready-made attachment of an oxygen mask, superior sound attenuation, and communication ability in addition to dual visor functionality that was needed during variable conditions, providing not only a step up in functionality but a step up in safety with the availability of these helmets.

As word spread of the new helmet available to the powerboat racing community, the popularity of the helmet grew quickly, becoming the most sought-after and most wellused helmet within the industry in a short period.

Sonny developed a patented underwater breathing variant of the USAF MBU20P pilot oxygen mask that automatically activates the compressed air flow during a rollover or submersion in a powerboat. These masks make racing in all forms of fully enclosed cockpits much safer and have saved many lives over the past 25 years. These masks are connected to onboard and miniature man-mounted compressed air bottles that buy racers valuable time for rescue to arrive to extract an injured racer while trapped underwater.

Tiger also expanded its marine onboard communications expertise into the marine patrol boat market for onboard plug-in and wireless radio intercom systems. It is used worldwide for various Military, law enforcement, and commercial applications.

Tiger Performance Enters the Aviation Market

Testing

Shortly after the start of the company, Sonny decided to sell CGF helmets, Tiger Performance advanced communications, and bailout emergency breathing systems to the aviation industry after many inquiries from interested pilots and crew members.

The Department of the Interior oversees helmet standards for the U.S. State Department of Interior. The U.S. Forest Service demands a high safety standard for helmet safety for use in department aircraft and by contractors operating aircraft for those agencies. Hawkins stated that they had put many years and tens of thousands of dollars into testing their helmets to certified standards and adjusting the helmet, including creating custom molded ear cups for high noise attenuation and side impact. These ear cups are the foundation for Tiger's in-house high-quality PNR and ANR helmet communications with or without Bluetooth. Tiger also created the addition of a helmet pigtail connector, which quickly disconnects a plug-in straight or coiled cable for PNR, PNR/Bluetooth, ANR or ANR/ Bluetooth with U174 helicopter plug, dual G.A. or LEMO plug. These plug-in cable choices enable meeting any helmet communication requirements. Tiger's Bose and Lightspeed helmet communications also qualify to meet the DOI/USFS standard.

During the early years of representing CGF helmets, the company rebranded to CGF Gallet. The inventor of the CGF Gallet helmet, Adrian Gallet, passed away shortly after. His wife then sold the company to U.S.-based safety equipment supplier MSA, rebranding to the MSA Gallet helmet. In the last several years, the company dropped the Gallet branding, with the helmet now being solely branded as an MSA product.

The MSA helmets are widely recognized for being the lightest weight, high quality, and comfortable, with many features and accessories. Many accessories have been developed exclusively by Tiger Performance. These include two Maxillofacial shields (optical see-through offered in 4 colors and lightweight carbon fiber), NVG quick-release mount, fid lock magnetic, and heavy-duty ratcheting chin strap choices.

Tiger also offers the very popular ICARO and Petzyl EMSSAR helmets with attached headsets. These helmets are very comfortable and lightweight, with easy attachment of various custom Tiger, Bose, and Lightspeed headset choices.

These helmets have rapidly grown in popularity for ag/spray applicator pilots, search and rescue, air medical rescue, and law enforcement.

While the company plans to continue to offer the Bose A20 modification for helmets, with the recent introduction of the Bose A30 headset, the A20 has been discontinued. Once again, Tiger Performance was the industry leader and the first to create the Bose A30 helmet conversion. The Bose A30 has even more advanced features and performance than the A20.

Tiger's man-mounted miniature and lightweight carbon fiber 4500 PSI Survival Breathing Apparatus is an industryleading emergency bailout breathing system and the first choice for many aircrew members worldwide.

Another critical function for helmets, communication ability, and safety is comfort. Tiger Performance also allows selecting between leatherette/memory foam, gel, or vinyl foam for ear cup seals and choices of comfort foam or memory foam helmet liners.

Challenging the Status Quo

Wireless Innovation

Tiger Performance was the first company to delve into improving the audio quality of the existing helmet by integrating the extremely popular Bose A20 headset into the MSA and other helmets.

As a key innovator in new technology, Tiger Performance is dedicated to pushing the envelope regarding technology, safety enhancements, and improvements to helmet-based products. One of those innovations currently in development is the ability to operate wirelessly in the cockpit or on the ground during search and rescue, medical transport, Military, law enforcement, and other ground operations through wireless hands-free communications. This fully integrated wireless flight helmet communications is another industry first for flight helmets.

"We reconfigured a Bose A20 headset to fit inside flight helmets. Over ten years ago, we were the first ones, the originators of the Bose A20 conversion. It was extremely notable because it took off like wildfire. Suddenly, people wearing a helmet would benefit from what that headset could do with high-quality audio fit into a helmet for the first time. The pilot and aircrew can benefit from highquality active noise reduction with onboard voice-activated communications, listening to music, radio, or phone calls while flying. There was nothing like all those high-end qualities at their disposal ten years ago. So that opened up a whole new world for pilots wearing helmets when only pilots wearing headsets had that ability previously," said Hawkins.

Hawkins detailed that the soon-to-be-released product is currently undergoing field testing with the ability for the wearer to adjust microphone squelch directly from a dial knob on the helmet, which allows the user to adjust the amount of squelch in a windy environment when the wearer is in the open door of a helicopter or moves outside the cockpit in a search and rescue mission. ➤ aerialfiremag.com | AF 71

The wireless communications are available in passive or active noise reduction configurations with helmet installed Bluetooth and radio PTT controls and can communicate with 20 or more wireless helmets or headsets. An aircraft plug-in transceiver enables aircraft intercom and radio connectivity with the wireless helmets or headsets. Tiger offers a complete line of wireless helmets, EMS-SAR helmetmounted headsets, and headband and neckband headsets.

When questioned about the ability of the new technology to work outside the cockpit, Hawkins explains that the wireless modification will allow the user to communicate within 1000 feet of the aircraft wirelessly as long as there is a line of sight between the user and the aircraft, potentially eliminating the need for expensive external wireless communication solutions in some circumstances.

The wireless helmet is rechargeable and battery-operated and can go from wireless to wired communication in case of a battery failure or if the battery is left uncharged with an included plug-in communication cord accessory. At the same time, Hawkins estimates that with a full charge, the wireless solution will easily last an entire day of heavy usage.

Improving on Quality In addition to the wireless solution, Tiger Performance has teamed up with a world-leading Communication component manufacturer to develop what Sonny describes as the "World's Best" microphone. The VIPER microphone series is designed for use in all forms of aviation and marine Military and commercial helmet and headset communications. Offered in either plugin or flex boom integrated, the new microphone is reported to have superior wind performance and speech intelligibility.

It is reasonably priced, according to Hawkins, who states in testing with the U.S. military and during company testing, it has outperformed all competition and exceeded expectations on many levels with documented performance. The Viper microphones are available in civilian high-impedance amplified AF 72 | aerialfiremag.com

electret or military low-impedance dynamic configurations for plug-in full pivot, Gentex style flex with flag mount, flex/wire, or full wire booms for any helmet or headset. Orders are now being accepted, with deliveries beginning in November. TSO and Mil-Spec certifications are pending.

Further Viper Microphone Progress Also in development by Tiger Performance is a fully submersible Wet SAR version of the MSA helmet for search and rescue operations for rescue crew members that need to be dispatched outside of the aircraft into a water environment. The new waterproof/corrosion-proof helmet currently in development will be IP68, waterproof to four meters (13 feet), and is designed to be not only waterproof but have fully enclosed circuitry to beat the corrosive nature of salt water and what it can do to exposed electronic and metal components of a helmet.

Also in development are oxygen mask versions of the Viper microphone for USAF and U.S. Navy configurations.

Helmet Cooling The latest product on display at the NAAA convention held in December in Palm Springs will address the extreme effects of Global Warming and particularly interest pilots that spend extended time in aircraft wearing a helmet. Hawkins noted over several years that pilots complained that despite having air conditioning in aircraft, they still sweat inside their helmets. Hawkins stated that his team has been hard at work developing a helmet-integrated powered ventilation/ cooling system that will be reasonably priced, easy to install, and introduce airflow into the previously sealed helmet environment to address one of the most complex problems of heat not dissipating from a helmet.

The Tiger helmet integrated ventilation/cooling modification can be added to most aviation flight helmets and is easily removable when not in use during cooler seasons.

A Family Affair Although started by Sonny and his wife Tina, Sonny knows he won't be around forever. He has looked to his family to continue the legacy he created. Son Oleksandr "Sasha" Hawkins, the Hawkins son, is the company marketing and advertising manager, is involved in production, and has worked for the company for the past 8 years. The company's General manager and nephew, Bobby Dubill, who first worked for Sonny as a crew chief on his boat racing team, has been with the company since its founding. Sonny's sales manager and second nephew, Joey Dubill, has also been with the company since two years after the company's founding.

The Future As an innovator in the industry, Tiger Performance has several new products soon to hit the market that may make flying a little more comfortable and give pilots more freedom of movement and a much-improved audio experience, depending on their helmet selection and modifications. One thing is sure: Tiger Performance listens to their customers' feedback and requests and is not waiting on the next big thing but looking to what pilots want and inventing new products to continue pushing the industry forward, making flying safer and more comfortable, and providing more effective communications.

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Visit www.tigerperformance.com or call 1-716-674-8545 for the best in aviation helmets, communications and accessories Tiger Performance can provide all offered helmet comms for all makes and models of aviation helmets and offers Tiger headsets with matching comms.

aerialfiremag.com | AF 73

Insights and Analysis: Mapping the Bushfire Outlook with TracPlus Introduction As Australia braces itself for the Spring 2023 season, the stage seems set for a period of heightened vigilance and preparedness in terms of bushfire outlook. The shift in Australia’s climatic influences since last spring has brought the nation under the spotlight of increased bushfire risk.

A majority of the regions are expecting above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall, a concoction that typically spells increased fire activity.

Moreover, the previous La Niña years have led to an upsurge in fuel growth in many regions, further escalating the risk of bushfires. Communities across various states and territories are urged to ramp up their preparations and closely monitor the local conditions as the spring unfolds.

AF 74 | aerialfiremag.com

Understanding the seasonal bushfire outlook becomes pivotal as it outlines the potential fire threats in various regions, assisting in strategic planning and community awareness.

The outlook is not a prediction of where and when bushfires will occur, but a tool to identify areas of increased risk, helping communities to be primed for appropriate action.

As a leader in the firefighting and aviation data industry, TracPlus recognises the importance of understanding the complex factors that contribute to fire risks. With our extensive experience and commitment to supporting wildfire response efforts, we’re pleased to offer an analysis of the latest long-range forecast just released by the Bureau of Meteorology. This article aims to provide valuable insights into the expected weather conditions and their implications

for the upcoming 2023/2024 fire season across Australia’s diverse regions.

Nationwide Overview As we venture into Spring of 2023, it is paramount to grasp the climatic intricacies that influence Australia’s bushfire outlook. This season, the key climatic influences shaping Australia’s weather patterns and consequently the bushfire outlook, are the developments in the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).

Both the BoM and AFAC have noted significant shifts in the climatic patterns compared to the last year, mainly driven by the transition from La Niña to a probable El Niño phase.

This transition is expected to have a substantial influence on the weather conditions across Australia, altering the rainfall patterns and temperature trends.

The ENSO Alert: A Signal to Prepare The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) currently retains a neutral stance, with neither La Niña nor El Niño dominating the scene. However, a subtle yet significant shift is underway. The tropical Pacific ocean waters have

been gradually warming since the beginning of 2023, breaching the El Niño thresholds. Despite the ocean showing signs of an impending El Niño, the atmosphere remains in a neutral state, indicating an uncoupled condition that is commonly seen during the onset of El Niño events. As we navigate through this transitional phase, a 70% likelihood of an El Niño emergence lingers, potentially diminishing the winter-spring rainfall in the eastern expanses of Australia, thereby escalating the bushfire risk.

The IOD’s Influence: A Potential Drying Agent Simultaneously, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), presently neutral, hints at transitioning towards a positive phase in the forthcoming months. According to the BoM, the last three weeks have seen the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) index exceed the positive IOD threshold of +0.40 °C. However, several more weeks of positive IOD values above the threshold are needed for greater confidence that a positive IOD event is underway. This shift might act as a drying agent, reducing the winter-spring rainfall particularly in the southern and central belts of Australia, thereby potentially augmenting the fire risk in these regions. ➤ aerialfiremag.com | AF 75

Global Warming: A Persistent Undercurrent On the global front, an unprecedented surge in sea surface temperatures has been witnessed since April 2023. The warming trend, which reflects a larger narrative of global warming, rings alarm bells for Australia, a nation that has already experienced a temperature uptick of about 1.47 °C from 1910 to 2021. This persistent undercurrent has redefined rainfall patterns, fostering high-intensity, shortduration rain events, especially in the north, while the southern precincts have witnessed a dwindling cool season rainfall, down by 10-20% in recent decades.

The Evolving Fire Seasons: Adapting to New Normals Navigating through these changing climes, Australia finds itself adapting to evolving fire seasons characterised by more frequent elevated fire dangers, appearing earlier and lingering longer each year. While the recent La Niña events have provided a respite, a shift in the ENSO state might revert or escalate this trend, ushering in longer and more intense fire seasons. This evolving pattern necessitates heightened vigilance, particularly during the spring and summer months, as dangerous fire weather days have seen a significant upswing, especially in the southern and eastern corridors of Australia.

AF 76 | aerialfiremag.com

Temperature Trends Heading into spring, Australia is expected to witness a notable escalation in temperature.

The BoM predicts a warmer trajectory for the September to November period, with over an 80% chance of abovemedian maximum temperatures encompassing nearly the entire country. Moreover, the minimum temperatures are also expected to soar, especially in areas surrounding the Great Australian Bight and extending into the central Northern Territory, indicating warmer nights ahead.

Rainfall Predictions The rainfall patterns during the same period paint a rather dry picture. Northern Australia, extending from the Kimberley region in WA to Queensland, and southern parts encompassing regions from southern WA to the Riverina region in southern NSW are projected to experience below-median rainfall. Particularly, isolated regions in the southwest and southeast might witness significantly reduced rainfall, creating a backdrop for increased bushfire activity.

Soil Moisture and Evaporation The combination of reduced rainfall and heightened temperatures is forecasted to create drier than average soil moisture conditions by late spring, particularly impacting the south and east of Australia. This condition, coupled

with existing high fuel loads, signifies an enhanced risk of flammability in various regions. It is anticipated that these factors will contribute to a bushfire season characterised by rapid grass fires, necessitating quick responses and heightened aerial reconnaissance to manage the potential threats effectively.

In light of these developments, a detailed analysis of the regional bushfire outlooks becomes essential to understand the varied implications across Australia’s diverse landscapes, assisting communities and firefighting agencies in gearing up for a season that demands vigilance and preparedness.

Conclusion: The Spring 2023 bushfire outlook paints a varied picture across Australia, with several regions bracing for heightened fire risks due to a combination of meteorological factors. From the increased grass fire potential in New South Wales and Victoria to the anticipated intense bushfires in parts of Queensland and South Australia, it is clear that a diverse range of challenges await the firefighting teams across the country.

In this context, TracPlus stands as a reliable partner for firefighting agencies and teams, equipped to offer real-time

tracking and operational insights that can significantly bolster wildfire response strategies. Our solutions are designed to be a powerful tool in the hands of those who are tasked with safeguarding communities from the unpredictable and often devastating impact of bushfires.

As we navigate this season, aerial firefighting strategies in Australia will need to be meticulously orchestrated to mitigate the potential risks effectively. The pronounced grass growth due to previous La Niña seasons necessitates a focus on preventing and controlling grass fires, which tend to spread rapidly and can be highly unpredictable.

Aerial assets might be leveraged more for swift initial attack capabilities to prevent small fires from becoming uncontrolled, especially in regions with high grass fuel loads. Moreover, the intelligence gathered through aerial reconnaissance will be pivotal in mapping the spread of fires and identifying potential hotspots in the vast grasslands and forested areas.

As the nation gears up to face the potential challenges of the coming months, we at TracPlus are ready to support the teams on the front lines, offering technology-driven solutions that can enhance efficiency and safety during wildfire operations.

aerialfiremag.com | AF 77

Wildfire Drones: Detecting, Coordinating, Containing the Wildfire Upsurge

by Urtė Širmulytė Wildfires are breaking out more often, persisting for extended periods, and burning with greater intensity. From North and South America, across Europe, to Indonesia, Australia and beyond, the pattern is the same. Wildfire season is getting longer, and in some places it’s almost a year-round concern.

So, what can be done to protect communities, save lives and preserve ecosystems?

Take Canada. By 27 June 2023, the country broke records for the largest area burned by wildfires in a single year[i].

And that was before the season even reached its peak. In Europe, there have already been close to four times more wildfires than average this year.

According to the United Nations Environment Program, the global situation is escalating fast, with forecasts of a worldwide increase in extreme fires of 14 percent by 2030, rising to 30 percent by 2050[ii].

In many territories, the main causes of fire are lightning, humans, or poorly maintained powerlines. While humanignited fires cause major problems in populated regions, in boreal forest and woodland around 90 percent of the total area destroyed by wildfires originates from lightning strikes[iii].

Against this worrying backdrop, how can the situation be improved? Can drones provide advantages in firefighting situations? And how can they assist with wildfire detection, evaluation and containment? We spoke to wildfire experts around the world to understand the current circumstances, the shortfalls, and the opportunities to save more lives.

“Fire has an ecological and historical role in many Canadian ecosystems,” John Davies, a senior wildland fire specialist in British Columbia, told us. “Our grasslands and our forests have evolved with fire as a natural means to regenerate. But these large, destructive fires are not natural and they can negatively impact ecosystems. Wildfire AF 78 | aerialfiremag.com

patterns are changing, and that’s causing us concern. We need to detect them early, hit them fast, and try to keep them small. By providing real-time, persistent, actionable incident information, we increase the efficiency and safety of our operations.”

Early Wildfire Detection The speed of wildfire detection and how quickly it can be validated are critical to a successful outcome. Arnoud Buiting, a program director for operational preparation and fire department safety in the Netherlands, provided us with insights into current detection methods, saying, “Surveillance over the Veluwe, a forested area, is carried out using airplanes, but they are expensive to operate and maintain.

Also, recreational users often report wildfires through mobile networks, yet the inability to be present everywhere at once poses a significant challenge. What’s more, the verification of detected fire images and pinpointing precise locations are elements missing from the equation.”

Elsewhere, continuous camera networks are deployed across wide geographical areas, using AI to detect smoke and alert authorities. But they have a limited coverage area. Satellite imagery is another route to detection, yet with a pass-over rate of just once or twice each day, the method can be less effective. Plus, by the time people, fixed cameras or satellites can identify smoke, the fire has already taken hold.

Drones offer rapid aerial surveillance, and real-time data, enhancing situational awareness and allowing faster response to wildfires, leading to improved detection and coordination among fire management agencies.

One example of innovative technology usage in early drone wildfire detection comes from Fire Neural Network™.

Lightning is responsible for the majority of the area burned in the Western US, yet only a small portion (5%) of lightning strikes are capable of starting fires, known as High-Risk-Lightning™ (HRL) strikes. Fire Neural Network™ developed a system that quickly and accurately alerts

when an HRL strike occurs. Detectors capture high-current lightning strikes, combined with local environmental and fuel characteristics. An AI algorithm combines this data and generates HRL alerts. Once a hazardous strike point is identified, a drone can fly out and verify the ignition location.

This real-time information allows first responders to focus their resources on areas of need instead of patrolling large areas without knowing where to look. This technology has been rolled out in the US (Florida), the Australian Capital Territory and the Brazilian Amazon.

Effective Coordination and Containment Detection is only part of the early phase challenge. Once a fire has been identified, crews need to be deployed on the ground at the right location with as much situational awareness as possible. This can take up valuable time.

“When we know there’s lightning, we need to get out there as soon as conditions allow,” says Davies, “but when a lightning storm comes in late evening or overnight, there may not be enough daylight to go look for an emerging fire until the morning due to nighttime flight restrictions. So, fires could be burning for eight or ten hours before they get detected”.

“Things can change quickly. Even in the course of an hour, you can go from receiving a call on a spot fire, to it blowing up into a very large wildfire with the need for helicopters, air tankers and more ground crews than may have been initially dispatched. And timing is everything. Being able to

supplement, or replace the use of aircraft with drones during a busy fire season could provide a key advantage.”

Once a wildfire has been identified, drones can act as scouts, arriving ahead of first responders and allowing remote teams to appraise the situation as it develops.

According to Kihan Garcia a mechanical engineer specializing in remotely piloted systems from Wollongong, Australia, drones should collaborate with manned aircraft in wildfire response efforts. They can play a crucial role in providing situational awareness by capturing real-time data and relaying valuable information on optimal locations for planes and helicopters to deploy water drops effectively.

By working in tandem with aircraft, drones enhance the coordination and efficiency of aerial firefighting operations, enabling a more targeted and strategic approach to wildfire containment.

Improving Safety For Wildfire Crews When wildfires take hold, crews aim to extinguish them by 10am the following day, before relative humidity begins to decrease, causing fires to spread. But this isn’t always possible, and by the afternoon the fire can increase, especially when influenced by wind, which plays a critical role in wildfire spreading. It can rapidly spread the flames, carrying embers ahead of the main fire, and creating unpredictable fire behavior. In such a dynamic system, drones provide crucial situational awareness, keeping firefighters safe and well-informed. ➤ aerialfiremag.com | AF 79

Drone’s EO/IR capabilities have improved dramatically over the last several years enabling faster transmission of data from the fireground.

“It’s vital that we bring real-time intelligence to first responders,” says Josh Wilkins, a seasoned fire officer and wildfire technology advisor operating in Haily, Idaho. “That’s the overriding objective. Everyone should be fully aware AF 80 | aerialfiremag.com

of their own personal situation, and that’s a big ask when you’re facing an unpredictable wildfire situation. We want to be able to save lives by not risking them in the first place, and that’s where drones can play a defining role.”

Drones can also look for spot fires, scanning on the fireline for embers thrown out ahead of the main wildfire.

This real-time information prevents crews from becoming trapped, while also evaluating safe zones during rapidly escalating situations. All this data collection also feeds back into the Incident Action Plan (IAP), providing the basis for developing flexible strategies and achieving objectives on a day-by-day and hour-by-hour basis.

Advanced Monitoring and Situational Awareness When a hotspot is smoldering on the ground and not yet producing much smoke, sometimes for days, a drone’s thermal imaging camera can be tuned to identify the hotspot before it flares up.

As well as being equipped to provide real-time information by scanning perimeters and firelines, drones can also map the vegetation in high definition using multi-spectral imaging, and photogrammetry payloads.

This enables accurate predictions for fuel and fire behavior models.

In addition, the information obtained from drone-captured images includes accurate GPS location and timestamps, adding relevance to the visual data. According to Garcia, “Imagery without context is just pretty pictures.

By combining high-quality imagery with precise geospatial information, drones deliver meaningful and actionable insights that inform decision-making.” ➤ aerialfiremag.com | AF 81

Successful Wildfire Control, at Lower Cost As drones continue to evolve, their ability to save lives expands. They offer cost-effective solutions, with lower purchase and maintenance expenses compared to manned aircraft.

However, some challenges still remain. Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights do raise local regulatory and logistical issues. Yet, according to Andy Olesen, a consultant in emergency response robot operations from Canada, new regulations are expected to provide advancements.

Meanwhile, in the US, regulations are also changing. Wilkins told us, “A new bill in Congress addresses the FAA regulations and the need for rapid adoption of drones in the wildfire environment,” while Garcia adds, “Flying BVLOS in Australia has recently been made more accessible. It now requires an operating certificate, obtained through an exam assessing pilot proficiency in instrument-based flying. With this certification, operators can conduct day and night operations.”

How DeltaQuad Evo Makes a Difference DeltaQuad Evo is a reliable, versatile and future-proof platform that offers a range of significant advantages for wildfire detection and control. With a flight time of over 4 AF 82 | aerialfiremag.com

hours and easy versatile payload capacity it can cover vast areas and be used to perform different kinds of missions, like capture high-resolution imagery, thermal data, and other essential information critical for effective wildfire detection and analysis. Since it’s simple and quick to swap payloads, you can use a single drone for additional missions, like vegetation mapping or perform a specific search and rescue mission.

It can operate over extended distances, making it ideal for monitoring remote or hard-to-reach wildfire-prone regions or perform perimeter scans. Built for stability and durability, Evo can withstand harsh environmental conditions often encountered during wildfire situations. Moreover, its autonomous operation feature allows for pre-programmed flight paths and systematic grid searches, optimizing efficiency in surveying large territories.

By harnessing these capabilities, DeltaQuad Evo serves as a powerful tool for efficient and precise wildfire detection and monitoring, significantly enhancing wildfire management and response efforts. Interested in learning more about DeltaQuad Evo? Contact us to discover what we can do for you.

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