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Fire Fighting Equipment - Introducing the Helitack Appliances

The QFRS contract three Helitack appliances for the QLD fire season from August til November each year. These aircraft are based at Archerfield and managed by the Rural Fire Service. The following story summarises an orientation exercise held at Ripley Valley in the lead up to the 2008 season.

On the 21st and 22nd of August, the three aircraft along with their crews and ground support staff undertook a training program hosted at Ripley by our Brigade. The training involved actual practice runs over a simulated fire scene with the aim of improving skill sets and fostering of good collaboration between Aircrews, Air Attack Supervisors and Rural Fire Service personnel on the ground.

Helitack 669, 670 and 671 arrive at Ripley Valley RFB Station.

Pilots View

On scene at the simulated fire, a collar dam was used for resupply of water.

Ripley Valley Unit 51 was used as the ground coordination appliance.

The Helitack appliances typically carry 1000 litres of water and can fill from a static source such as a dam in approximately 45 seconds. They then have the ability to target the delivery of the water where needed and can also add fire fighting foam which improves the fire fighting capabilities of the delivery.

Thanks to Matt Carter, we got some great shots from a high vantage point.

Crews from Ipswich Urban Station (45) visited the exercise with 645A and 645M.

Crews working together and learning from this excellent training initiative in preparation for the coming fire season.

Matt Carter took these great shots of the Helitack aircraft on a previous visit to their base and show off the finer details of the appliances.