AEROTHRIVE’s Post

Tragic Aircraft Accident: Cirrus SR22 Crashes into Utah Lake, Claiming Two Lives On the morning of September 27, 2024, a tragic accident occurred when a Cirrus SR22, registered N831AZ, crashed into Utah Lake while on approach to Provo Airport, claiming the lives of both occupants. For more details and analysis: https://shorturl.at/jIp2Z #AirspaseNews #Airspace_News #Airspase #News #PlaneCrash #UtahLake #CirrusSR22 #ProvoAirport #AviationAccident #NTSB #AviationSafety #AirTrafficControl #CAPS #EmergencyResponse #AviationNews #AviationInvestigation #ProvoUtah #StGeorge #AircraftAccident #PilotSafety #AviationCommunity #LossOfControl #FlightSafety #AviationRisks #ProvoFire #UtahHighwayPatrol #UtahCountySheriff #RescueEfforts #AviationUpdates #TragicIncident #Condolences #AviationIncident #PrivateFlight

How do you combat the growing threat of forest fires? Ecocopter S.A.+Helisul Aviação has taken a decisive step by deploying a dozen helicopters in Chile to enhance aerial firefighting operations. This fleet expansion includes five Airbus H125 B3s already in operation and five newly added aircraft: two Sikorsky Aircrane S64s and three Super Pumas. Francisco Arriagada Urra, Commercial Manager of Ecocopter+Helisul, emphasized the importance of preparedness, stating, “The incorporation of these helicopters is a crucial step to ensure we are prepared to face any emergency, contributing with air resources by incorporating high-impact aircraft that perform a key, safe, and efficient task for these operations.” The Aircrane S64 leads the fleet with a 10,000-liter tank and rapid refill capabilities, essential for slowing fire advances. The Super Pumas, in the semi-heavy segment, deliver up to 3,500 liters of water per discharge and offer three-hour flight autonomy, while the H125 B3s excel in maneuverability, extreme condition response, and firefighter transport, with a capacity of 1,200 liters per discharge. With over 15,000 hectares impacted by forest fires this season, according to Corporación Nacional Forestal, these advanced helicopters play a critical role in minimizing damage to people and the environment. Ecocopter+Helisul is also prepared to deploy additional fleet resources from outside Chile as emergencies demand. How do you see advanced aerial firefighting techniques shaping the future of disaster response? For more details, visit our blog: https://lnkd.in/ggS48JSC #AvfoilNews #Ecocopter #Helisul #AircraneS64 #SuperPuma #H125B3 #AerialFirefighting #ForestFires #DisasterResponse #AviationInnovation #Chile

"The Reality of Water Landings: Lessons from the Hudson River Landing" The 2009 Hudson River landing, famously depicted in the movie Sully, is often seen as a triumph of skill and composure under pressure. However, it also offers critical lessons about the reality of water landings and why they are rarely as survivable as the movies suggest. Why the Hudson River Landing Was an Exception Low Impact Speed: Captain Sully expertly glided the Airbus A320 into the Hudson River at a low speed and minimal vertical force, significantly reducing the impact on the fuselage. Controlled Environment: The Hudson River provided relatively calm and predictable water conditions compared to the unpredictable waves and winds of open seas. Swift Rescue Proximity: The location of the landing, close to New York City's rescue resources, ensured passengers and crew were evacuated quickly, preventing casualties from cold water exposure or drowning. The Reality of Water Landings Impact Forces: In most water landing scenarios, the speed and angle of descent make the water feel like a solid surface, often resulting in catastrophic damage to the aircraft. Structural Vulnerabilities: Aircraft are not designed to float indefinitely. Doors, windows, and seams can quickly give way, causing the fuselage to sink or break apart. Unpredictable Conditions: Unlike the Hudson River, open waters are subject to high waves, strong winds, and low visibility, all of which make a controlled water landing far more difficult. Engines and Undercarriage: Engines under the wings act as drag points upon water contact, destabilizing the aircraft and increasing the likelihood of breakup. Key Takeaway While the Hudson River landing is a story of remarkable success, it should not create a false sense of security about water landings. They remain among the most challenging and least survivable scenarios in aviation. The industry continues to innovate and learn, but understanding the complexities and risks is essential for both professionals and the public. 💡 Did you know? Ditching certification ensures that aircraft meet flotation and evacuation standards, but this doesn’t guarantee survival in real-world conditions. What are your thoughts on the Hudson River landing and the challenges of water landings? #AviationSafety #HudsonRiverLanding #AircraftEngineering

Airbus H125s battle blazes in Chile As the peak fire season draws to close in Chile, Chilean Airbus Helicopters H125 operator Rotortec reflects on the lessons learnt during another intense firefighting campaign. “In Chile we are used to forest fires. Unfortunately it is something that is already part of our country because of its geography and weather conditions,” explains Jose José Tomás García, pilot at Rotortec. “But what marked this fire season was that this year the fire reached the big urban centres, burning down many houses and causing the loss of many lives.” Operating a fleet of four H125s, Rotortec has flown more than 400 fire-fighting hours this summer season in the Southern Hemisphere putting out fires. The operator’s main missions have been dropping water and retardant on the flames. But it has also carried out other key missions such as the airborne coordination of ground resources or flying terrestrial firefighters to the scenes of fire. Rotortec’s H125s are equipped with water buckets, a heli-basket and a cargo hook with load indicator. Carrying FM radios, aircrew are able to communicate directly with ground crew and activate a siren before each water discharge. Francisco Fluxá Hernández Francisco Fluxá, general manager of Rotortec and also a pilot with more than 4,000 hours in his logbooks said the operator often fought forest fires at high altitudes. “We operate firefighting missions mainly between December and March, which is the most complicated time of the year,” he said.   “We move from the central zone to the southern zone, in the lake region, where there are native forests above 5,000 feet.” Fluxá praised the responsiveness of the H125 aircraft. “It has a power margin that no other helicopter has, especially when fighting fires at higher altitudes, which is a frequent occurrence in Chile,” he said. Read the full story - including why 2023/2024 witnessed some of worst wild fires in years - via the link. tinyurl.com/2eda5t8t #helicopters #rotorcraft #firefighting #forestfires #chile #southamerica #aviationindustry #fire

How are advancements in aviation technology enhancing wildfire response? Conair Aerial Firefighting Group Inc. has announced the purchase of two DAHER TBM 960 aircraft to modernize its air attack fleet, ensuring superior performance and reliability for aerial firefighting operations. The TBM 960, selected after analyzing 50 aircraft types, offers advanced safety features such as the HomeSafe emergency autoland system, single-lever digital engine and propeller control, and cutting-edge Doppler radar for detecting lightning and turbulence. These features align with Conair's mission to provide safer, more effective wildfire response capabilities. Matt Bradley, President & CEO of Conair, emphasized the importance of this investment: "Modernizing our birddog fleet ensures our aircraft aren’t grounded by lack of parts supply, increasing maintenance, or obsolescence, when needed the most. This upgrade offers lower operational risks during crises, providing our government agency customers with confidence in our fleet's availability." The aircraft will be retrofitted with specialized avionics and equipment tailored for wildfire operations. Starting in the 2025 fire season, these Air Attack planes, or "birddogs," will lead tactical and strategic aerial firefighting efforts across Canada. A Conair pilot and an Air Attack Officer will collaborate to ensure precise communication between pilots, ground crews, and firefighting teams. Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of Daher Aircraft Division, highlighted the TBM 960’s operational versatility, stating: "Conair’s acquisition underscores the TBM 960’s effectiveness in demanding environments. Daher is fully committed to providing top-level OEM support for these aircraft." As global legacy fleets of birddog aircraft near the end of their operational lifespans, Conair is setting a new standard in aerial firefighting with these modernized aircraft. What are your thoughts on the role of advanced aviation technology in combating wildfires? For more details, visit our blog: https://lnkd.in/gggx4yz7 #AvfoilNews #ConairGroup #DaherAircraft #TBM960 #AerialFirefighting #WildfireResponse #AirAttack #AviationInnovation #AerospaceTechnology #CanadaAviation #EmergencyResponse

How #JASTeam Services Help Weather the Storms 🌪️✈️ At #JASTeam, we understand the critical role of #AircraftMaintenance during storm systems like borrascas, which are currently affecting several Spanish airports with strong winds. Here's how these high winds impact aircraft and how #MRO services help keep fleets safe and operational: 1️⃣ Wind Stress: Strong gusts put pressure on #aircraft structures like wings and landing gear. Our team conducts thorough inspections to catch and fix any damage early. 2️⃣ Ground Equipment: High winds can damage ground handling equipment, and fast repairs are essential to keep operations smooth and reduce delays. 3️⃣ Debris Impact: Winds can cause debris to damage parked aircraft. We provide rapid assessments and repairs to address any surface damage. 4️⃣ Structural Integrity: Repeated exposure to strong winds can weaken aircraft structures. Preventive checks ensure key components remain strong and reliable. 5️⃣ Post-Storm Readiness: Quick inspections after storms ensure aircraft are airworthy and ready for flight as soon as possible. #JASTeam is here to help airlines stay on schedule and keep their fleets flying safely, even under challenging weather conditions. ✈️🌪️ #TakingYouFurther #MRO #AviationSafety #WeAreAviation #AeronauticalEngineering #Aviation #AviationLovers #Avgeek

Jeju Air 7C2216 Lessons: I think it is clear the Flight Crew of Jeju Air 7C2216 did what they thought best at the time under adverse conditions that we - who were not there - can only begin to imagine. In my opinion, latent links had already formed at the airport, enabling a runway excursion of this magnitude to end in a predictable catastrophic disaster that any robust risk assessment or - even common sense - should have identified. It isn’t sufficient to just talk about safety and hazard/risk reduction; you must proactively plan and manage it. It is too easy to double guess the Flight Crew or even to cite Pilot error but the fact remains, without the wall (Obstacle) many of the 179 souls - if not all - would have had a greater chance of survival.  However, what remains a fact, is many aerodromes/airports around the world face comparable space constraints / conditions, wherein, similar events will occur despite the root cause, such as a bird strike, pilot error, etc. To Quote Mr. Bill Yearwood (Governor General’s Citation; Author of the book ‘Getting it”; former TCCA - Director of System Safety and TSB - Manager Aviation Accident Investigations): “Aviation Regulations are written in blood.” Given the above, two questions should be asked: How much blood is required? And, dose it make a difference if the blood belongs to the decision-maker or someone else? There has been a lot of discussion by professionals and 'armchair experts' over Runway End Safety Area (RESA) and Runway Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS). In Canada the TSB in their 2022 Watchlist recommended “RESA as a mitigation strategy “… one technical solution to mitigate the risk of an overrun is an engineered materials arresting system.” Nevertheless, what has not been discussed to any great extent is another mitigation system principally used in conjunction with other strategies by the US military, which is reasonably inexpensive (in comparison to a human life), highly effective and proven.   I am referring to an energy absorbing ‘Aircraft Arresting System’, which utilises a cable or special barrier net structure to catch and safely decelerate an aircraft within a specified distance. These systems are typically utilised as a last resort, wherein incurred damage to the aircraft is mute.  I will not get into the pros and cons of this device or how best to utilise it, but as a last ditch effort to overt total disaster, there is much to commend it for. As the old adage goes: If you think Safety is expensive, try having an accident! The Jeju Air tragedy will be analysed and discussed for decades, with the root causes explained, clarified and taught within multiple training courses (I will probably include it in my training sessions). Nevertheless, there are vital lessons that need to be learnt and Airlines, Airports/Aerodromes and Regulators alike, need to take them on-board as if the next blood spilt, will be theirs and/or that of their loved ones.

HI Uplift: Heli help for a planet ‘literally on fire'. (Shame about rates) Demand for firefighting helicopters has never been greater. Both the number and intensity of wildfires worldwide is fuelling the need for more aerial support – both rotary wing and fixed wing. The trouble is that prices and terms of many rotary firefighting contracts are too low to justify investment, according to the panel dedicated to the topic at our Helicopter & VTOL Investor conference. When António Guterres, secretary-general, United Nations warned the planet is “literally on fire”, he wasn’t speaking exclusively about wildfires. But he might have been. What were separate seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere – enabling assets to relocate between the two – have now merged, says Jason Diniz, president of lessor Eagle Copters. “We are now seeing firefighting seasons that exist way past previous timelines to the point where you can’t really move assets between the Northern and Southern hemispheres,” he said. “It’s now a 365-day fire season and that’s caused a lot of issues.” Support came from Kate Grammer, regional business development lead, FIREHAWK and Advanced Concepts, Sikorsky. “It’s obvious to most of us that fires have become larger, more frequent and more intense and we are seeing demand correlate with that directly,” she said. “We might not see assets put into action as quickly as we would like.” There’s no doubting demand but contract terms are braking investment, according to our panellists. The size of the problem was described by Frederic Goig, senior director to Aero Asset. “When you launch a tender in Spain for 45 aircraft and nobody answers – that’s a sign,” said Goig. Diniz, at Eagle Copters, agreed. “Firefighting rates have been extremely low compared with mission profiles,” he said. “That has put a massive crunch in terms of operators achieving sustainable profitability. They have to claw every cent and dollar to keep running their organisation.” But there is optimism about the length of contracts. Many are offered annually with yearly renewal. Recently though, reflecting the demand supply imbalance, state agencies are starting to offer five-year contracts. “It’s not happening across the globe,” said Diniz. “But it is happening in areas where they really need [firefighting] assets like Spain and the US.” Goig called for rate increases of 50% or more to generate sustainable profits for helicopter operators to thrive not just survive in the market. Diniz said it was hard to identify just one rate increase, as his company leased helicopters for firefighting missions worldwide. “I would say anywhere from 20% to 40% at least, depending on the cost of operations in those centres,” he added. Read the full story - including about the deployment of firefighting Bell Flight 212s and Bell 412s, Airbus Helicopters H225 and the S-70 FIREHAWK. tinyurl.com/n5tnxpwh #HIUplift #helicopters #rotorcraft #firefighing #firerescue #emergencyaviation

Bird strikes can potentially cause a crash. Bird strikes can cause: *Engine Failure* 1. Ingestion into engines, damaging or destroying them. 2. Loss of engine power or complete failure. *Airframe Damage* 1. Impact damage to wings, control surfaces or windshields. 2. Compromised structural integrity. *System Failures* 1. Damage to hydraulic, electrical or fuel systems. 2. Loss of critical flight controls. *Pilot Visibility* 1. Obstruction of windshields or canopies. 2. Impaired pilot vision. *Examples* 1. US Airways Flight 1549 (2009): Birds ingested into engines forced a Hudson River landing. 2. Ethiopian Airlines Flight 604 (1988): Bird strike caused engine failure, leading to a crash. *Factors Influencing Crash Risk* 1. Bird size and type. 2. Impact location and speed. 3. Aircraft design and resilience. 4. Pilot training and response. *Mitigation Measures* 1. Bird strike reporting and data analysis. 2. Airport bird control measures (e.g., wildlife management). 3. Engine design improvements. 4. Pilot training programs.

How do advanced aerial fire suppression systems improve wildfire response efforts? Recoil Aerospace Inc. has received approvals from Brazil’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (ANAC - Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil) and Morocco’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation of Morocco (Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile du Maroc) for its Tsunami AFSS tank system, designed for the Airbus H225 Super Puma helicopter. This certification expands operational capabilities in key regions battling increasing wildfire threats. Recoil’s supplemental type certificate (STC) SR02584AK makes the Tsunami AFSS the only approved tank system for the H225, allowing firefighting programs in Brazil, Chile, and other South American countries to enhance aerial suppression efforts immediately. With Brazil experiencing a staggering 900% increase in wildfires in 2024, the availability of this system is critical for emergency response. “The approval is vital for assisting Brazil, Chile, and other countries’ fire suppression efforts at the height of fire season,” said Joseph Rice, president of Recoil Aerospace. “Our rapid installation combined with high-volume, fixed-tank water delivery leads to maximum fire suppression effectiveness.” Key features of the Tsunami AFSS include a fuselage-mounted, retractable tank design, rapid hover-filling, and the fastest airspeed available at 130 knots. Unlike traditional underslung water buckets, this system enhances safety by eliminating long-line operations, allowing helicopters to fly over populated areas without the risk of jettisonable loads. Recoil’s certification portfolio already includes approvals in the United States, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and other regions. The company is also pursuing U.S. Federal Aviation Administration certification for the Tsunami AFSS on the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter series, expected to be available for the 2025 fire season. Recoil Aerospace, based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is the only U.S.-based company producing these modern, fuselage-mounted, fully retractable AFSS tanks. The company also provides comprehensive training through its Recoil Aerial Firefighting Academy and operates in partnership with Aerospace Composites Solutions, an AS9100 Certified Manufacturing facility. How will innovations like the Tsunami AFSS impact future aerial firefighting strategies? Read more about this development on our blog: https://lnkd.in/gSzPQPs4 #AvfoilNews #RecoilAerospace #TsunamiAFSS #AerialFirefighting #AirbusH225 #WildfireSuppression #AviationSafety #FirefightingTechnology #HelicopterOperations #FAAApproval #AerospaceInnovation #HelicopterUpgrades