Dart Aerospace has signed an agreement with United Rotorcraft covering the provision of a new generation of Fire Attack Systems for the Firehawk helicopter. Dart will be working with United Rotorcraft, the exclusive completion centre for the Firehawk, to develop and certify the new systems.
“This contract is a testament to the quality and trust the firefighting industry has in Dart Aerospace to develop quality, reliable fire attack systems to help operators and government agencies battle today’s growing wildfires,” stated Alain Madore, Dart’s president and CEO. “It solidifies Dart’s leading position as a development and production partner in the firefighting tank market, and we expect long-term demand for tanks to increase for years to come.”
The systems will be developed and manufactured at Dart’s Portland, Oregon facility. The company intends to leverage the latest design and manufacturing technologies to produce a 1,000-gallon belly tank that combines lightweight materials and durability, while offering an optimised drop pattern. It hopes to achieve FAA supplemental type certification for the tank in the second half of 2022.
“With the continued and growing trend in wildfire danger, this new generation of Fire Attack Systems for the Firehawk has never been more relevant,” noted Larry Alexandre, president of United Rotorcraft. “This new tank technology will further establish the Firehawk as the standard for aerial firefighting in the US and abroad, and enhance its unmatched multi-mission capability.”
