Firefighting Aircraft: Intro To Aerial Fire Suppression
Aerial methods of firefighting --be it by helicopter or air-tanker—are often used in conjunction with firefighting personnel on the ground. Various agencies, such as the US Forest Service, own and operate their own aerial attack units, but it is also common to see private agencies being utilized on wildfires.
According to the US Forest Service, the “primary mission of the Forest Service Aviation is to support the ground firefighter through a variety of means including safe delivery of smokejumpers, rapellers, air attack, firefighter and cargo support, surveillance, aerial reconnaissance and fire intelligence gathering, and aerial delivery of fire retardant and water.”
Common suppressive elements used by aerial support are water, fire retardants, and gels.
Visit the HELICOPTER and AIR TANKER links under the "Related resources" heading for more detailed information concerning their use in aerial fire suppression.
photo by spotfireimages