An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir September / October 2026 www.military.ie/magazine N o. 3 Operations Wing provides an aerial firefighting service through its AW139 platform, equipped with an underslung firefighting 'bambi' bucket. Every year, as the summer months begin to heat up, the unit intensifies its efforts to hone its firefighting capabilities. Preparation for this includes training for pilots to handle the aircraft during water pick-ups and drop offs, in varying wind conditions as well as handling potential emergency scenarios that could present themselves. The rear aircrew also train in how to direct the pilots for a successful pickup, as the bucket is otherwise unseen to them. They then direct the pilots for the drop, assessing the most effective angles and taking into consideration the aircraft trajectory and wind velocity. There is also a unified effort in the hangar to consistently provide serviceable aircraft for each request. The demand on the aircraft and its operators is high, between the physical load bearing, and long hours involved in this type of operation. The technical crew are always planning ahead to ensure inspections and maintenance action are carried out in a timely manner, so that aircraft are always available for the next call that comes in. This year, over the month of July alone, No. 3 operations Wing conducted 23 aerial firefighting missions to six locations around Ireland, dropping in excess of half a million litres of water. These fires were scattered across the country and included Killarney National Park Kerry, Slievenamon Tipperary, Kilclooney Waterford, Glencree and Brittas Bay Wicklow, and Glencullen Dublin. Many of these were in difficult to reach locations or required the sheer volume of water delivered by the AW139. In some cases, they were so dynamic that a helicopter was the best way to respond. For example, at certain stages these fires burned underground through root systems and presented themselves some distance from the fire line in an area difficult to see from the ground. The aerial perspective and manoeuvrability make it much easier to extinguish these 'hotspots' as they appear, preventing their rapid spread. Technical Details The SEI Industries Bambi Bucket is one of the most widely used aerial firefighting buckets in the world. Designed to be suspended beneath a helicopter using the helicopter's cargo hook, the bambi bucket allows the aircraft to deliver 1,225L of water in a single drop. The bambi bucket used by the Irish Air Corps has a gross weight of 1,300kg and when empty, the bucket weighs 70Kg. The bambi bucket can be folded away neatly into a carry bag making this system ideal for the AW139 to transport as cargo when not in use. The bucket is made of a reinforced polyurethane-coated fabric shell, supported by lightweight aluminium battens and suspended by high strength cables attached to an aluminium control head. An electrically operated dump valve, powered by the helicopters electrical system, allows the pilot to release the water accurately over the target area. These buckets have been in service with the Irish Air Corps since 2006. Flying with the Bambi Bucket Flying with any underslung load has its tricks to it, but few jobs require as much dynamic thinking as with firefighting. Firstly, there are a number of checks to be carried out before lifting with a bucket attached. These ensure that the bucket will function as intended, and that it can be jettisoned if it becomes stuck, swings, or otherwise moves in a hazardous manner. Once airborne, there does not appear to be much noticeable difference in handling. However, it can feel restrictive when operating within imposed limits, such as angle of bank and speed, designed to maintain a safety margin for manoeuvre. The approach to water is made slowly, but maintaining some forward speed, and requires finesse to ensure the bucket sinks fully. Things start to get tricky here as hovering over water sends 4 | AERIAL FIREFIGHTING FIREFIGHTING ARTICLE BY CAPT SEÁN CURRAN & SGT KEVIN MAHER Photo by @kevinshieldsphotography_ie on Instagram

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