Helipoland pilots have participated in a number of fire fighting operations. In Poland, we are by far the only helicopter operator utilizing most popular worldwide in fighting fires AS 350 helicopter type, and thus, we have a high performance capabilities (speed, lifting capacity, reliability) of machine well tested in aerial fire fighting.
The Biebrza National Park 2020
Our fleet constantly consists of helicopter ready for fire fighting, which can be deployed at short notice. At our main base, there is always at least one pilot on standby around the clock, and when necessary, we can quickly call in more pilots if needed. From Bielsko-Biała, we reach from east to west throughout the southern half of Poland within a couple of hours, and once in place we can deliver a sustained effort until the fire is extinguished.
All our pilots are certified in aerial fire fighting, and are regularly trained in all elements included. This is done to assure that we perform our services in the most efficient and secure way possible considering the demanding conditions usually prevailing during a fire.
HeliPoland owns so-called Bambi buckets, the collapsible water containers used in aerial fire fighting. Depending on the type of helicopter, the capacity ranges from approximately half a cubic meter up to 1000 liters.
Support organization
In order to provide a continuous effort, we have the ability to place our own tankers with a capacity of 4 and 10 cubic meters at the location. In a typical fire fighting scenario extending over time, refueling represents a mere 2-3 minutes per hour flown when we are established with our complete set-up in place.
Our technical organization possess mobile helicopter workshops, so called Line Stations, approved by the Polish CAA. This means that we are fully mobile also with regards to the servicing and maintenance of our helicopters and related equipment. Supervision, maintenance and repair of helicopters and other equipment is carried out on location with the same technical ability as at our main base.
Ho do we do it?
At the initiation of an aerial fire fighting mission, our operations department issues a Flight Order. It contains all the information the pilots need to know about the mission, such as location of the area, contact persons, security, information about the fire, etc. During the ferry flight to the area of operations, the collapsible water container can be carried inside the helicopter and then assembled quickly on site upon arrival or suspended under the helicopter from the time of departure, all in order for us to commence with our efforts as soon as possible.
While the first helicopters take off from our base, the mobile support organization may be activated, and the support vehicles in form of tanker(s) and mobile workshops may begin the journey to the mission area. Also more pilots may arrive and lift off as to participate in the operation…
Aerial firefighting operations
In addition to water bombing from helicopters, we can also assist with:
- Transport of personnel to and from the fire fighting areas
- Rapid movement of equipment and materials with a lifting capacity of up to 1000 kg
- Fast evacuation of people from areas threatened by fire
- Using heat-sensitive infrared cameras that “see” through smoke and record the GPS location in real time, assist in dispatching resources where new hotbeds flare up before the fire gets a stronghold
- A number of technical solutions for live monitoring, filming and support to operational command
Do not hesitate to contact us to find out more about our aerial fire fighting capabilities…
