Comprehensive Firefighting Assistance via Airbus Technological Solutions

In the battle against wildfires, Airbus plays a significant role, contributing advanced technologies that aid in firefighting missions, disaster recovery, and emergency response.

Helicopters: The Firefighting Workhorses

The Airbus H225, part of the Super Puma family, is a key asset in firefighting missions. Equipped with a belly-mounted water tank for aerial firefighting, emergency medical stretchers, and advanced avionics and autopilot systems, the H225 is designed to reduce pilot workload and enhance safety during high-risk operations. Its extended range and heavy-lift capacity allow it to perform diverse tasks, including search and rescue, disaster recovery, and emergency medical services. The Tokyo Fire Department, for instance, uses H225 helicopters for firefighting, search and rescue, and medical response, benefiting from both the helicopter’s technological sophistication and operational reliability. The H225 can refill water rapidly and perform multiple drops per hour, significantly enhancing firefighting efficiency.

Water-Bombing Capabilities: Rapid and Targeted Response

Airbus supports water-bombing aircraft operations that engage in rapid and targeted water or retardant drops to control wildfires. Helicopters, like the H225 with water tanks, have critical advantages over fixed-wing aircraft due to shorter refill and turnaround times, enabling more drops per hour. This makes them crucial in wildfire suppression.

Although specific Airbus satellite missions were not detailed, Airbus is known for its space and satellite technology capabilities. These technologies support firefighting through environmental monitoring, wildfire detection, and coordination of emergency operations by providing real-time data and communications infrastructure.

Communications Solutions: Enhancing Operational Coordination

Airbus provides integrated communications systems that enhance coordination among firefighting teams and command centers. These solutions ensure secure, reliable, and efficient exchange of information during emergency missions, contributing to speedier and safer firefighting operations.

Crisis Management: Linking Data Sources

Airbus Defence and Space is developing a state-of-the-art crisis management system (CMS) for managing crises and disasters, such as wildfires or floods. This system integrates different data sources and links all components of crisis management.

Other Airbus Helicopters in Firefighting Operations

Multiple Airbus helicopters, from light single helicopters to medium-heavy workhorses, are available for firefighting. For example, the H145, as the market leader in the EMS segment, is a trusted partner for rescuers in the first "Golden hour". The H215, with its rugged design, excellent payload performance, cost efficiency, demonstrated capabilities in demanding conditions, and a 4000-litre water discharge capacity, can carry a large number of firefighters.

Evacuation and Monitoring

Evacuation is a crucial aspect of firefighting operations, including the extraction of citizens and the protection and evacuation of firefighters. The A400M aircraft has undergone a new flight test campaign for a Roll-on/Roll-off firefighting prototype kit, which can drop 20,000 litres of retardant and create lines up to 400 metres long. The kit does not require any modification to the aircraft and can be interchanged with any aircraft in the A400M fleet.

High-resolution imagery from the Airbus' Pléiades Neo satellites can show the extent of an area of damage in detail. The aircraft from the Chilean Navy, equipped with optical and infrared cameras, can detect and monitor fires from an early stage.

Early Detection and Management

Satellites can help detect fires at an early stage, monitor and analyze their progress, and assess the damage due to their ability to see through clouds and wide geographical coverage. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) provides geospatial information to better manage disaster risk using satellite data. The Copernicus satellites, for which Airbus played a key role in constructing some of the satellites and instruments, have monitored forest fire activity in near-real time and support wildfire management.

Improved Avionics and Interoperability

Improved avionics, automated flight features, and increased interoperability are key drivers for Airbus helicopters in firefighting missions. Airbus' professional communication application Agnet is used by several public safety organizations for improved coordination between firefighters. In the UK, 70% of mainland fire and rescue services rely on the digital solution SAFEcommand for critical incident information.

In summary, Airbus' contribution to firefighting involves technologically advanced helicopters like the H225 tailored for aerial firefighting and rescue, support for water-bombing efficiency, satellite-enabled environmental monitoring and data sharing, plus communications solutions that boost operational coordination and safety during wildfire and other emergency responses.