20-Dec-2017Source: American Helicopter Services & Aerial Firefighting Association
With little advance notice, aerial firefighting companies demonstrated their rapid response capability to post-season fires throughout southern California, which have destroyed thousands of structures, and hundreds of thousands of acres across Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles and San Diego counties. As the fires, driven by the dry Santa Ana winds, spread, aircrews, mechanics and fuel truck drivers, who thought they would see no further... Read more
4-Jun-2015Source: AHSAFA
In a major move to streamline its operations, Helimax Aviation is expanding its long-time base of operations at McClellan Airport, in Sacramento, with the opening of a renovated 40,000 square foot hangar, expected to be on line by late June or early July of this year. The company, owned by Chris Turner, a Michigan-based entrepreneur,... Read more
11-May-2015Source: AHSAFA
The American Helicopter Services & Aerial Firefighting Association (AHSAFA) has selected George C. Hill as its new Executive Director. Mr. Hill will assume the position on June 1, replacing Tom Eversole who has been the director since he started the association in 1998. “George Hill is uniquely qualified to build upon AHSAFA’s reputation as an... Read more
30-Mar-2015Source: AHSAFA
While the fire season throughout much of the US does not begin until early spring, the private aerial firefighting industry is—even now–battle-ready for what could be another tough year, thanks to ongoing dry conditions in the Western states. “I think there is going to be far more fire activity in 2015, particularly in the Pacific... Read more
30-Oct-2014Source: AHS & AFA
Members of the American Helicopter Services & Aerial Firefighting Associaion (AHSAFA) have generally reported greater utilization of fixed wing and helicopter assets, as highly destructive wildland fires raged across much of the Western US this year. “The amount of flying we have done during this year’s fire season has already exceeded what we did during... Read more
3-Sep-2014Source: AHSAFA
Columbia Helicopters, Inc., a member of the American Helicopter Services And Aerial Firefighting Association (AHSAFA), has opened a new facility which will be totally focused on the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of military helicopters. The 16,000 square foot building, located at the company’s headquarters and maintenance complex at Aurora (Oregon) State Airport, will be... Read more
18-Jun-2014Source: AHSAFA
Operational readiness of firefighting aircraft during mandatory availability periods (MAPs) is assured, annually, thanks to an ongoing focus on heavy maintenance events scheduled for the low fire risk winter months. MAPs are the specific time frames, usually ranging between 90 and 180 days, when the operators are contractually obligated to Federal or State fire protection... Read more
26-May-2014Source: AHSAFA
The American Helicopter Services And Aerial Firefighting Association (AHSAFA) applauds the decision by the Colorado Legislature to continue contracting for aerial firefighting services from the private sector, instead of opting for State ownership and operation of all fire-combating aircraft—which was under consideration. The “Colorado Aerial Firefighting Fleet Acquisition” bill, known as SB 14-164, was signed... Read more
28-Mar-2014Source: AHSAFA
Columbia Helicopters is expanding its fleet of heavy lift, twin-rotor aircraft with the acquisition of five Boeing CH-47D helicopters, formerly operated by the US Army. The helicopters, originally manufactured in the early 1970s as CH-47C models, but upgraded in 1988 to the D-model configuration, will join the operator’s fleet of six Columbia Model 234 Chinooks,... Read more
20-Feb-2014Source: AHSAFA
Aerial firefighting companies have focused on an earlier than normal fire season in the western United States as the region continues to cope with dry conditions. But that does not mean they are taking short cuts in a multi-step annual preparedness process, which includes scheduled aircraft maintenance. For example, Columbia Helicopters of Portland, Oregon, operates... Read more
18-Nov-2013Source: AHSAFA
On the eve of its 2014 Annual Meeting in Boise, Idaho, on November 20, the American Helicopter Services & Aerial Firefighting Association (AHSAFA) has cited some progress over the past year toward airtanker fleet modernization, along with on-going opposition to any increased role for government in the aerial firefighting business. “After years of discussions between... Read more
4-Nov-2013Source: AHS&AFA
Columbia Helicopters has been working with the Australian Army on preparations for the return of two CH 47D Chinook helicopters from Afghanistan. The two helicopters flew some 5,600 missions since deployed there in 2006. The Portland-based company, which has a global reputation for expertise in maintenance of the CH 47 and other Boeing Vertol-built twin-rotor helicopter... Read more
15-Oct-2013Source: AHSAFA
Despite the shutdown of the Federal government, amid on-going budget battles in Congress, the privately operated aerial firefighting industry continues to be mission-ready, with no disruptions to contracts currently in place with the US Forest Service (USFS). “I want to assure the public that our companies, which have flown fixed wing air tankers and helicopters... Read more
20-Aug-2013Source: AHS&AFA
As wildland fires rage across nine far western States in the Continental US, airtanker and helicopter operators are continuing to support ground-based fire fighters, despite heavy demand for aerial assets. “We have every available aircraft under USFS exclusive use contract working on–or prepared to deploy–to a fire,” said Ron Hooper, Chief Executive Officer of Neptune Aviation... Read more
23-Apr-2013Source: AHSAFA
The American Helicopter Services And Aerial Firefighting Association (AHSAFA) has questioned a proposal by the Colorado Senate to establish a state-owned and operated aerial firefighting fleet. The legislation, which would establish a Colorado Firefighting Air Corps, at a purported cost of $25 million, has been approved by the Senate’s Agricultural, Natural Resources and Energy Committee... Read more
28-Mar-2013Source: AHSAFA
Private sector aerial firefighters report their aircraft are mission-ready for what could be another devastating fire season in the US, as dry conditions continue to persist over much of the country. In fact, according to a US Forest Service (USFS) spokesman, the 2013 fire season is projected to be similar to last year’s, when 9.3... Read more
29-Jan-2013Source: AHSAFA
Representatives of the US aerial firefighting industry predict ongoing challenges involving fleet modernization, as legacy aircraft continue to age, and the Federal government has yet to sign off on a viable transition plan for operational funding of proposed, new generation, large airtankers. “The private, aerial firefighting industry has submitted a viable plan to replace today’s... Read more
28-Jun-2012Source: AHSAFA
The American Helicopter Services and Aerial Firefighting Association (AHSAFA) congratulate Congress for its passage of legislation authorizing the US Forest Service (USFS) to make multi-year, operational funding available to private operators for fleet modernization of large air tankers engaged in wildland fire suppression. The Bill, S 3261, “Contract Awards For Large Air Tankers,†was signed... Read more
5-Feb-2012Source: AHSAFA
“With near record lows in rainfall, combined with record high temperatures in much of California in December–plus ongoing dry conditions throughout much of the Southwest–the aerial firefighters are preparing for an earlier than normal deployment of assets, given the prevailing high fire dangers, especially in those parts of the country,” said Tom Eversole, Executive Director... Read more
9-Sep-2009Source: Vertical
Aerial firefighting companies from as far away as Atlanta are working with ground forces to contain the devastating Station Fire still sweeping Los Angeles County. The fire has scorched more than157,220 acres or 246 square miles to date.... Read more
14-Aug-2009Source: Vertical
The private aerial firefighting industry has once again demonstrated its capability to deploy aircraft and crews rapidly to a rash of wildland fires throughout the far Western US. Currently, some 31 fires in nine States–from Alaska to Texas–have destroyed over 1,354,562 acres.... Read more
