Erickson Incorporated, a leading aerospace manufacturer and aerial services company, has been contracted by the Korea Forest Service (KFS) to build two new Aircranes to supplement the Forest Service’s firefighting capability.
The Forest Aviation Headquarters, a subsidiary of the Korea Forest Service, has ordered two additional S-64E models equipped with firefighting tanks, sea snorkels, foam cannons, glass cockpit, composite main rotor blades, and NVG capability. The S-64 Aircrane is well-known in Korea and has a strong reputation for being the most efficient firefighting aircraft in their existing fleet.
“This was a global competition, and we were competing with manufacturers from around the world,” said Douglas Kitani, CEO and director of Erickson. “We are pleased to bring the work and jobs to our Southern Oregon facility and apply Erickson’s unique skill set to augment Korea’s firefighting capabilities.”
KFS was the first foreign government that purchased S-64s from Erickson in 2001, and to date it has operated five Aircranes in Korea while maintaining a contract for parts and service support. This new contract brings the total number of orders for the KFS Aircrane fleet to eight, with the expectation of delivering the seventh and eighth aircraft by the end of 2019.
The contract award decision was based on the superior performance and reliability of the Aircrane, Erickson’s attention to customer support, and the relationship of trust that has been built with the KFS over the past 20 years.
Erickson owns the world’s largest operational S-64 Aircrane fleet of 20 helicopters as part of its total fleet of 50 aircraft.
The Aircrane Helitanker is recognized throughout the industry as one of the most efficient and effective fire-fighting aircraft in the world. The S-64 Helitanker is equipped with a 10,000-liter (2,650-gallon) tank capable of rapid snorkeling either fresh or salt water that helps provide an outstanding capability for fire authorities in both the initial attack of fast moving fires and advanced structure protection. It has internal foam mixing capabilities and provides water or retardant dispensation utilizing eight coverage levels. The aircraft can be configured with a water cannon for high rise and structure protection.
As populations and development expand, aerial firefighting over residential properties and structures becomes a more crucial part of the equation. Erickson’s S-64 excels at supporting ground firefighters in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), as well as high volume firebombing on large fires.
