An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 5 ripples away in all directions, giving the impression that you are moving. Over the water there is often a lack of nearby references to judge your actual movement, so you rely on what the crewman tells you. The spray from the water mists the area in front of you and at this level of concentration even the action of engaging the window wipers can strain the brain. Finally, the bucket fills, and the crewman calls "cleared to lift". Now the aircraft feels significantly heavier and takes to the air reluctantly, sometimes with an audible strain. This transition to forward flight is among the most critical moments as you scan ahead for obstacles and ease the aircraft into a suitable line towards the fire. The crewman starts a patter on the final run in and directs the pilots onto the fire line. The aircraft is slowed to a minimum safe speed and down to 100 feet. While every effort is made to avoid flying through smoke, it obscures much of your vision and the smell of it fills the air. The heat from the fire permeates the cabin. "5,4,3,2,1, DUMP DUMP DUMP…. Water Away" comes the call from the crewman, and the aircraft is immediately lighter making it easy to wheel away from the fire, down the hill and back to the water to do it all again. Skill involved in achieving an accurate drop An accurate water drop is a result of teamwork, experience and clear communication. With the rear cabin doors open, two aircrew members work from the back of the helicopter, where they have an unobstructed view of both the fire and bambi bucket suspended below. Because the bucket is positioned beneath the aircraft belly, the pilots cannot physically see it or observe exactly where the water lands, relying instead on guidance from the rear crew throughout each approach. The aircrew direct the pilots onto the target, taking into account wind, terrain, smoke and the location of firefighters on the ground before giving the command to release the load. After each drop, they immediately report the accuracy of the water placement and advise any corrections needed for the next run. To maintain a high level of concentration during long operational days, the two pilots and aircrew rotate roles throughout the mission helping to reduce fatigue. Planning There is always in the back of your mind the urgency associated with a probable threat to life and property, but accurate planning before leaving the ground is key to success. This involves surveying the area using multiple GIS sources, to ascertain the most appropriate water sources, and calculate the approximate time for a circuit of water collection and drop-off. It is also important to assess the maximum load of the aircraft and the fuel endurance on board. Depending on the location and nature of the fire, it may be necessary to lean towards either a greater endurance, or a higher bucket capacity. The latter is often preferred as it has greater effect, but reducing it may also limit the number of refuels required, therefore offering more operational time. Our crew remain flexible in their planning and seek areas in which they can change the bucket capacity manually, as well as refuel where required. This involves coordination with other support elements of the Air Corps, as well as external agencies. Working with crews on the ground While the helicopter and bambi bucket are the most visible parts of an aerial firefighting operation, success depends just as much on the teamwork between the aircrew and the firefighters on the ground. Every water drop is the result of close coordination between the helicopter crew, firefighters on the ground and the incident command team. On the ground, firefighters work tirelessly with beaters, backpack sprayers and hand tools to contain the fires. Water drops are often placed just ahead of or alongside these crews to reduce the fire edge. Firefighters may also dig temporary water sources or extend existing ones to facilitate the bambi bucket pickup. Ground crews continuously report on fire behaviour, wind changes and emerging hotspots using handheld radios. On large incidents a member of the helicopter crew may be deployed to the ground to work alongside the incident coordinators. Conclusion The high intensity of operations required this year tested the capability of No.3 Operations Wing, but its esprit de corps shone through and allowed safe and efficient delivery of aerial firefighting services. Lessons learned include the importance of accurate planning and real-time communication. These will feed into equipment lists and crew briefings for the future. In the meantime, we remain ready and able to provide assistance at any fire the country may face.

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