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A wide variety of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are used for aerial firefighting. In 2003, it was reported that "The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management own, lease, or contract for nearly 1,000 aircraft each fire season, with annual expenditures in excess of US$250 million in recent years".
The continuous improvements to meet the needs of forest firefighting have made these aircraft the aerial means most in demand over more than 30 years." [ 36 ] By 1999, a total of 51 orders had been secured for the type; operators have reportedly predominantly used the CL-415 for firefighting and maritime search and rescue purposes. [ 37 ]
In 2018, Bridger was one of four companies awarded a contract with the United States Department of the Interior to use drones in emergency situations, including during wildfires. [9] It became the first private company to legally use drones for wildfire fighting during the Martin Fire in Nevada, mapping 435,000 acres of burned land in 11 flight ...
While the newer helicopters have opened up the possibility for 24/7 fire fighting, it is not typically practiced, Anderson said. To avoid crew exhaustion, firefighting efforts often end about 2 a.m.
AT-802U prototype at Paris Air Show. In response to the United States Air Force's LAAR program and the growing requirement for light counter-insurgency aircraft, [5] Air Tractor developed an armed model, the AT-802U, in 2008, with engine and cockpit armor, a bulletproof windscreen, self-sealing fuel tanks, and structural reinforcements for the carriage of 9,000 pounds (4,100 kg) of payload.
This aircraft is designated the Q400-MR (Multi Role). The aircraft can be reconfigured into the passenger, cargo or aerial fire control role in under three hours and can drop 10,000 L (2,200 imp gal; 2,600 US gal)in the tanker role. In recent years 14 Dash 8 Q400’s were purchased from Flybe and also converted into tankers.
Since 2020, there have been at least 14 fatal crashes of airplanes and helicopters fighting fires in the U.S., killing at least 25 pilots and crew members, according to a Times review of federal data.
A post shared on social media purportedly shows a video of a helicopter lifting water out of the Pacific Ocean to fight the current fires in Los Angeles. Verdict: False The video dates back to 2019.