Pointing to the 25% global shortfall in Type 1 firefighting helicopters as a driving factor, United Rotorcraft and Dart Aerospace have revealed they are partners in a Super Puma firefighting solution. The system will feature an externally mounted tank with a capacity of 4,000 litres (1,056 USG), broadly the same as United Rotorcraft’s UH-60/S-70-based Firehawks. Controls for the system will be cockpit-mounted, reducing crewing requirements.
Targeting government agencies and commercial operators, United Rotorcraft will also work on several mission packages, allowing the use of the aircraft in various non-firefighting roles in addition to fire suppression and management.
While the question “Are they not competing with themselves?” readily springs to mind, it only loiters there as long as it takes to consider the stock of UH-60/S-70s available for conversion outside the US compared with Puma variants.
The companies have said the next step will be securing Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approvals from the FAA, EASA, and Transport Canada. However, they haven’t said what the expected timescale for approval is. It is reasonable to assume that securing at least one before the start of the 2024 Northern Fire season would be the goal.
Commenting on the announcement, Dart Aerospace President Alain Madore said, “This partnership solidifies Dart’s position as a leader in the helicopter mission equipment industry. Together, United Rotorcraft and Dart are reaffirming our commitment to delivering superior solutions to the firefighting market.”
