Dopo il Beriev Be-200 è arrivato in Italia anche l´Erickson Air-Crane S-64 (inglese)

[Zarco]

First Erickson Air-Crane S64 Helitanker arrives in Italy for the Forestry Corps

This first of four Erickson Air-Crane Helitanker helicopters due to be delivered to the Italian State Forestry Corps is now in Italy. The S64 arrived Saturday morning at Rome’s Fiumicino airport, transported from Medford, in the US state of Oregon, inside an Antonov freighter aircraft. Over the next few days, it will be assembled and tested in time for an inaugural flight in occasion for the anniversary of Corpo Forestale on Friday 15 October in Rome, in the presence of the President.

The Helitanker can transport almost 9,500 litres of water, and its cannon can propel the water jet up to 60 metres. Its snorkel allows refilling the tank in just 50 seconds.

The other three helicopters from the order will arrive in Italy over the next 8 months, with the next one due in February 2005.

Fonte: Corpo Forestale dello Stato

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Erickson Air-Crane’s original press release on this order gives further useful information

After five years of employing Erickson Air-Crane’s S-64 Helitanker on wildfires throughout the mainland and the islands of Sardegna and Sicily, the State Forestry Corps of Italy (Corpo Forestale Dello Stato or “CFS”) has contracted with Erickson Air-Crane of Central Point, Oregon, USA, to purchase four S-64 Aircrane Helitankers, together with a substantial spare parts, support and training package and an option for the purchase of two additional S-64 Helitankers. Acting Director General of the Italian State Forestry Corps, Fausto Martinelli, signed the purchase agreement on behalf of the CFS ordering the firefighting helicopters. Gian Franco Blower, Vice President - Europe, conducted the negotiations and executed the contract on behalf of Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated.

Erickson Air-Crane will build the four (4) S-64 Aircranes, equipped for firefighting with Erickson’s patented 2,650 gallon (~10,000 litre) tank system and “Foam Cannon”, at Erickson’s Central Point, Oregon manufacturing facility. The manufacturing process is set to commence in October of 2003, with delivery of the first aircraft scheduled for spring of 2004.

“We are seeing a tremendous evolution in the fire suppression capability of Italy with the use of the S-64 Helitanker over the last five years”, says Gian Franco Blower. “The integration of the S-64 Helitanker into the Italian aerial firefighting fleet represents one of the most effective wild land and urban interface fire suppression strategies in the world. Coordinated with current fixed wing (airplane) and helicopter resources, the Italian Fire Services have employed the Helitanker to help save lives, homes, and forests during what could have been the most devastating fire seasons in recent years. The Corpo Forestale Dello Stato currently owns and operates a fleet of helicopters in a mix of single and light medium twins ranging from MD 500’s to Bell 412’s. The decision to purchase the Helitanker for firefighting and disaster relief,” added Mr. Blower, “… demonstrates the success of the Erickson S-64 Helitanker in these primary roles over the past five years through its utilization by the Italian Civil Defense system.” The Corpo Forestale Dello Stato have established a series of helicopter bases for operations throughout Italy, with the principal base being located at the Rome Urbe Airport. These bases have been utilized for initial attack missions by the S-64 Helitanker since 1999. “Italy is positioning itself as a front runner in its strategy to combat the increasing threat of wild land and urban interface fires.” Mr. Blower continues, “This philosophy has come about under strong leadership of the Minister of Agricultural and Forestry Policies, Gianni Alamanno, and the Head of Civil Protection, Dr. Guido Bertolaso, and the unique relationship the two have in their shared determination to curtail the devastating effects of fires within the country.”

Erickson Air-Crane has leased its S-64 Aircrane Helitankers to the Italian State Forestry Corps and the Department of Civil Protection (Protezione Civile) since 1999, with its first Helitanker based on the island of Sardegna. Since then, both agencies have increased the integration of the Helitanker in their firefighting fleet with six (6) S-64’s flying on fires throughout the country this year (2003). “The Erickson Helitanker has become totally integrated into the Protezione Civile fleet both in an organizational and practical sense.” said Colonel Carlo M. Allochis, Director of the Aerial Firefighting fleet for the Department of Civil Protection. “The aircraft have responded well and have demonstrated excellent operability over long distances with their unique onboard mobile support system. They are considered as if they were a part of the Protezione Civile fleet and are integrated into the command and control of this organization.” Dr. Guido Bertolaso, Undersecretary of State and Director General for the Department of Civil Protection was quoted as referring to the Helitanker as “…the diamond head of our (Italian) aerial firefighting fleet”.

Although the S-64 Helitanker has seen worldwide popularity and use as a premiere firefighting machine, the Aircrane has a long history of performing external load heavy-lift operations with Erickson Air-Crane such as high-rise building construction, aerial timber harvesting, electrical transmission tower placement, and heavy equipment transportation. Specifically in Italy, Protezione Civile has also utilized the multi-function S-64 helicopter in a variety of Disaster Relief / Emergency Response missions as well as firefighting. In 2002, the S-64 airlifted a portable pumping station to drain a glacial lake that threatened to flood the ensuing valley and mountain resort town of Macugnaga in the Northern Italian Alpine region of Piemonte. During the recent eruption of Mount Etna, on the island of Sicily, two Aircranes were mobilized to support disaster relief operations conducted by Protezione Civile. One Aircrane, outfitted in the Helitanker configuration, dropped water on the fires started by the lava flow, while the other Aircrane lifted large cement blocks to divert the lava away from nearby villages and pristine forestland. “In these instances, we have been able to experiment with the capability of this aircraft (S-64) to change roles rapidly.” said Colonel Allochis. “More than one word must be said to recognize the valor and professionalism of the pilots and crew that have allowed the aircraft (S-64) to express its many capabilities.”

Erickson Air-Crane will deliver the ordered S-64 helicopters in the green and white livery and corps crest of the State Forestry Corps. The delivered helicopters will feature advanced digital flight control and avionics systems from Rockwell Collins and Garmin as well as the newly adopted SFIM automatic flight control system. The new “Glass Cockpit” will feature digital navigation and communication devices that will replace the current analog systems and increase reliability and accuracy in operation. The Erickson Air-Crane S-64 Helitankers will also be delivered with certification from the Italian Aviation Authority known as ENAC.

About Erickson Air-Crane

The S-64 “Aircrane” is the largest, most versatile “Standard Category” external load-carrying helicopter in production and operation in the world. Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated, based in Central Point, Oregon, USA, owns, operates, and maintains a fleet of eighteen (18) S-64 Aircrane helicopters. Erickson Air-Crane also manufactures the S-64 as the Type Certificate holder. Erickson combines its unparalleled field operational experience (70,000 flight hours in twelve countries in the last five years) with its engineering and field maintenance staff to provide state-of-the-art customer applications support. Erickson’s aircraft sales history began with the purchase of an S-64 Aircrane by the Korea Forest Service in 2001.

Conceived and designed by Igor Sikorsky and originally built and certified by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, the Aircrane is the ultimate vertical lifting machine. The S-64E and S-64F model Aircranes have external load capacity ratings of 20,000 and 25,000 pounds (~9,000 kg and ~11,300 kg) respectively.

Unique to the Aircrane is its immensely powerful hydraulics capability, so critical to its multi-role functions. Loads can be slung passively by “long-line” cables beneath the aircraft, or the powerful on-board hydraulics system may be used to operate specialized equipment to accomplish high value, high performance aerial timber harvesting. The Aircrane is at the forefront of the “mechanization of heli-logging” in North America, in good part due to the vertical lift and the hydraulic grapple harvesting capability of the aircraft.

Erickson Air-Crane’s exclusive “Anti-Rotation Device” attached to the fuselage of the Aircrane allows for the highest degree of precision helicopter installation capability in the industry. This precision construction capability has been demonstrated for over 30 years with Erickson Air-Crane employing the S-64 to build over 8,000 miles of electrical transmission towers across the United States and Canada.

Loads or equipment can also be attached to eight hard-points on the aircraft. The patented and phenomenally successful fixed tank firefighting system consisting of the 2,650-gallon (~10,000 litre) tank, “Water/Foam Cannon”, and the patented seawater / fresh water refill hydrofoil (“Sea Snorkel”) makes full use of this capability. Remove the Helitank; add a winch or the load-pendant, and the Aircrane converts to its heavy lift and precision placement role. The basic aircraft and system design provide an open-ended multi-role capability that continues to find new mission possibilities with Emergency Response and Disaster Relief.

[Steman]

Io ho visto un'esibiozione all'Elishow di Roma dell'anno scorso e devo dire che quell'elicottero e' impressionante.
Si calava sul Tevere, dal quale aspirava 9000 litri di acqua con una manichetta e poi le sparava dall'asta sul muso o direttamente dal serbatorio ventrale.

Con 14 CL-415, 4 S-64 e i BE-200, l'estate 2005 speriamo che sia piu' fresca!

Ciao

Stefano

[Duffy]

Beccato ieri in foto sopra casa mia mentre volava in formazione con altri elicotteri del Corpo Forestale.

La qualità delle foto non è certo ai livelli ai quali alcune persone del forum ci hanno abituato, ma a parziale giustificazione c'è il fatto che le ho fatte al volo dal mio balcone.











Ciao

[Nickel01]

Cavolo...ganzo!
Sono quegli eventi che sopra casa mia non accadono mai
Complimenti per averli beccati!
Ric