Australia’s long history of drought and hot, dry summers necessitates the unmatched firefighting capability of the Erickson S-64 Air Crane® helitankers.
2023 marks 25 years of Erickson operations in Australia. Over its tenure, Erickson has partnered with emergency management and public agencies to ensure the safety and security of Australian lives, infrastructure, and natural resources.
Erickson’s operations are characterised by the well-recognised, 70-ft long, all-orange Erickson S-64F Air Crane® firebombing helicopters (Helitankers or Helitaks in Australia). Seventeen separate Erickson Air Crane® helicopters have operated within Australia.
S-64 Type Certificate
Erickson Aircrane purchased the Type Certificate and manufacturing rights for the S-64 from Sikorsky 1992. The airframe(s) are rebuilt and modified as part of the conversion from CH-54 to S-64.
The S-64s are often referred to (even officially) as Elvis, due to N179AC (Elvis) being the best-recognised Air Crane® helicopter to operate in Australia. Elvis began its tenure in Australia in 1999, but became famed during the 2001-2002 season. In 2001-2002, Elvis “went to New South Wales for the Black Christmas fires and became one of Australia’s best-known S-64s after saving the lives of 14 trapped firefighters in the Burragorang Valley. This furthered national appreciation of the S-64 Air Crane® helicopter and made Elvis a renowned symbol of the collective mission,” according to Erickson Inc. The author concludes that this event served to promote the effectiveness of helicopter-delivered fire suppression to the public and the agencies.
Operational Scalability and Agility
Depending on the predicted summer fire season, the mix of assets may change from year to year. The peak years of 2008-2009 and 2011 saw seven S-64s sent to Australia, while this year experienced milder, wetter La Nina weather conditions. Fortunately, this season has been, in bushfire terms, a “Fizzer’.
Despite the requirement for fewer firefighting assets, the company has continued its commitment to Australia and partnership with the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) during the 2022-2023 season with N163AC, Bubba, in country.
Erickson’s agility and commitment to Australia’s firefighting mission is perhaps, best exemplified by their perseverance through the numerous complexities that were presented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020-2021 season saw a requirement for six S-64 Air Crane® helicopters. Erickson was able to meet this requirement while also adhering to COVID-related protocols such as mandatory quarantines. The next season saw additional pandemic-related obstacles such as global shipping constraints that the Erickson team was able to overcome.
“Bubba’s Legacy”: as the representative for S-64 Air Crane® helitankers in Australia this significant year, we celebrate the pathway taken for Bubba to have been here this season with some significant moments in its history:
- 70-18485 Constructor’s Number 64-093
- 1970 Built as a US Army Aviation Sikorsky type CH-54B-SI Tarhe known as the “Flying Crane”
- 70-18485 Allotted Fiscal Year (FY) serial (US Army)
- February 1971 taken on strength – 273rd Aviation Company (Heavy Helicopter) “Superhooks”
- Circa 1983 TOS 208th Aviation Company, Connecticut Army National guard, Bradley Field, Windsor Locks
- Aircraft was stored AMARC
- Sold to Erickson Air Crane
N163AC
- August 1992 Registered as N163AC to Erickson Air-Crane Co. in Central Point, Oregon, USA
- 1993 Converted to civilian model S-64F.
- March 1993 issued Certificate of Airworthiness
- July 2004, CofA for NX163AC issued
The Snorkel Systems and Water Delivery
The S-64 Air Crane® helicopter is used by fire agencies primarily for firebombing. The S-64 utilises a computer-controlled firebombing tank system that is designed to deliver a constant flow rate of fire suppressant or retardant to the target area, regardless of the volume in the tank. Coverage level settings are chosen by the flight crew based on the fire activity requirement and terrain.
When it is operating as a helitanker, a 10,000-litre (2,650 US Gallon) firebombing tank is attached to the fuselage of the S-64. The tank is fitted with two snorkel options that allows it to self-fill from a range of water sources:
- The Hover Snorkel system (above) can fill the 10,000-litre tank in under 40-seconds. This can be achieved in as little as 46cm of water depth.
- The Sea Snorkel system (below) is used in saltwater conditions or large bodies of fresh water. The Sea Snorkel utilizes a hydrofoil design to fill the 10,000-litre tank in under 30-seconds. This is achieved by maintaining forward flight over the water source while the Sea Snorkel is deployed.
The pilot can add a measured quantity of firefighting suppressant foam to water to increase fire suppression effectiveness. When required, the S-64 Air Crane® helicopter can fill from tanks of pre-mixed fire retardant solution. The retardant delivery system is controlled by a microprocessor that enables the pilot to select multiple drops as well as the volume and coverage level of each drop, providing a variety of options for efficient suppression of bushfires.
The S-64F Air Crane® Helitanker combines the ability to deliver large volumes of fire retardant with a helicopter’s versatility, performance, manoeuvrability and quick turn-around times. For instance, its cruise speed tops out at 104 knots/192 kmh and has a useful range of 226 nautical miles. The Air Crane® shows great utility in that it brings speed and range, and can operate effectively onto a fire very quickly after arrival.
Additional Features & Upgrades
The S-64F operates alongside other firefighting aircraft to support crews on the ground. Carried on board the aircraft are sophisticated communication and tracking equipment that keep the aircraft in constant contact with other aircraft and the fire agency crews managing fires on the ground.
Ongoing improvements to the S-64 type sees an F-model with a glass cockpit and new composite main rotor blades (first seen in Australia in the 2021-2022 fire season).
Erickson marketing collateral notes that, “Erickson’s massive Composite Main Rotor Blades (at 72ft/23m diameter and a disc area of over 4,000sq ft: author) are manufactured in-house at a facility in southern Oregon. After thousands of hours of design, testing, and analysis by Erickson engineers and their partners, the CMRBs were approved by the FAA for the S-64E and the S-64F. The fleet of S-64 upgrades with the new CMRBs are underway.
Words from the Agency
A 2004 report published by the State of Victoria on the performance and effectiveness of the Erickson S-64F Air Crane® during the 1997-98 fire season stated, “The helitanker was effective in directly attacking the edges of going fires, hot spots and spot fires, in providing valuable support to the ground firefighting resources and in working with both the fixed-wing and other rotary-wing firebombers from the Department’s contracted specialist aerial firefighting fleet.“
(Interesting to note, the concept of the ‘blown window’ for observation was invented pre-war by Australian Sidney Cotton.)
“Its ability to quickly deliver large volumes of fire retardant in potentially threatening situations under extreme fire danger conditions was well demonstrated. The large volume carried and the ability to split the load also allow it to deliver separate drops to several locations without the need to reload, reducing some of the urgency and pressure in the decision-making processes and enhancing the safety and effectiveness of firebombing operations.”
(quoted in agency section of the report) The report said, “By directly attacking high-intensity fires the Air Crane Helitanker was credited with several significant saves where high-value assets were under threat.”
Words from Kestrel Aviation
“The success of our partnership is built on the similarity of our organisational cultures; providing a seamless integration of the S-64 Air Crane® helicopter into the Australian market based on our joint focus on safety, innovation, and professionalism in our service delivery,” says Ray Cronin, Managing Director of Kestrel Aviation. Cronin continues, “We are proud to be part of the history of this iconic aircraft in Australia and look forward to welcoming our ‘mates’ to our shores well into the future; where through innovation, it continues to prove itself to be perfectly suited to our rugged Australian environment, making the difference in a range of fire conditions.”
A Glimpse into the Life of an Erickson Crew Chief
Aviation Report had a chat with staff at the “tip of the spear” to get some insight into the dedication it takes to perform such important work.
Australia Crew Chief Court Jones is a self-described “foreign-based Oregonian.” Jones applied his interest in helicopters, mechanical aptitude, and military field maintenance experience towards an FAA A&P licence (combining airframe and powerplant ratings).
Aside from working stateside, Jones has spent a decade working in Canada, Italy and Greece. While in Europe, Jones gained his EASA maintenance licence, and was Crew Chief on the S-64F-model in Italy.
Jones has much experience working with Erickson in Australia. He was with S-64s N194AC Delilah and N178AC Isabelle based in Bankstown, NSW and maintained the aircraft during the Black Saturday bushfires on February 7th, 2009. In 2013, Jones accepted the crew chief position for N163AC Bubba.
Reflecting on his 23 years of experience in Australia, Jones highlights the differences between firefighting methods in Australia when compared to the states and much of Europe. For example, in Australia, we utilise volunteers, not full-time professionals. Jones also shares his appreciation for the Australian people, stating, “We share a hard-working ethos, (a) no-nonsense, just-go-get-the-fire-out mentality.”
A Glimpse into the Life of an Erickson Pilot
Hubert “Hubie” Heuberger is an Erickson pilot with 40 years of experience. An “Austrian native”, Heuberger grew up in the Tyrol region and developed the desire to pilot helicopters at an early age. At 18-years-old he joined the Austrian Police and was selected for the Austrian Military Jet Pilot Standards to start his Police Helicopter Training. Earning his pilot licence at the age of 21, he was notably the youngest police pilot.
Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, Heuberger did traffic control, conducted landings on glaciers, performed mountain rescues, and performed air ambulance and long line work.
Heuberger has an impressive history with Erickson:
- Heuberger’s career trajectory with Erickson began in 1999, as Erickson was building recognition in Australia and seeking pilots with 5,000 hours on longlining with vertical reference.
- Heuberger was piloting in Bankstown, NSW with Randy Erwin (at the time, Erickson’s Chief Pilot and Chief Flight Instructor), during 2003, the most destructive year ever for Canberra (Australian Capital Territiory).
- Heuberger flew in Elvis with Kenny Chapman (Erickson’s 2022 Pilot of the Year), where they responded to the famous 2001-2002 “Black Christmas” fires.
- After Italy purchased four S-64 helicopters for their Forest Service/Forestale, Heuberger, with his EASA certificate, instructed their pilots on the cranes.
- After 2010, he was asked to join Erickson’s Italian division, European Aircrane, which led to him famously delivering the Pope’s Christmas tree in an S-64.
- In February 2020, he ferried the last S-64 sold to Italy. Returning, he was caught in a Peru hotel during the Covid-19 pandemic for 4 1/2 months.
- Next, Heuberger was slotted to deliver an S-64 across the Andes to Lima. He flew to a port in southern Peru, where Annie shipped out to the states, to be reconfigured.
- Mid-September of 2020, Heuberger was on a private jet out of Lima, ending up in Medford, Oregon, where he conducted flight testing.
- Heuberger then flew in Greece, replacing Erickson crewmembers who were isolating with Covid-19.
- In 2020, he returned to Sydney again with an S-64 on an Antonov AN-124 cargo plane to commence the 2020-21 season.
- Heuberger flew to Perth to fly another S-64 shipped from Greece until March 2021, thereafter returning to Central America, having been on duty for one year, 2 weeks.
- In the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons Heuberger was based in Moorabbin.
- Finally, Heuberger returned to Australia 2022-2023 for the current season.
Regarding his time in Australia, Heuberger observes, “The fires are strong here, winds are strong, weather changeable. Fires here are much bigger and more intense with Eucalyptus, dry vegetation and taller trees than overseas. Canberra’s fires were characterised by fast movement. They were extreme. There was then much fuel, after the ten year ‘Millennium drought”. The system used here, air attack, how they lead bombers, how to process the fire, mapping, the infrastructure, is very advanced.”
In regard to being stationed in Australia Heuberger states, ” This is one of the greatest places on earth that I have ever seen and been able to work. It is an honour to be chosen to come back here, because many ask to come here. Our contract requires the ability to switch to longline and bucket when required. Hence it is desirable that the pilots here should have longline experience, because the possibility may arise to use it on tall timber fires.”
Port of Melbourne
Looking Forward
As the season winds down, Bubba is taking the long trip north where fire seasons are just kicking off. During the 25 years in Australia, the Erickson team has fortified a steadfast commitment to protect the people of Australia and will be at the ready to serve this community for year to come.
We wish to acknowledge the assistance of Mr Brandon Johnson| Senior Program Manager, Erickson inc.
Data was located or cross-checked utilising the following sources:
Erickson inc. – company collaterol (2022)
Aerial Visuals Airframe Dossier – S-64F Skycrane N163AC
Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment – (Report on the) Operational Performance of the S-64F Aircrane Helitanker, Biggs H, State Aircraft Unit, 2004
Military Helicopters of the World – Military Rotary-wing aircraft since 1917, Polmar/Kennedy, Arms & Armour Press 1981
(Top Banner image): Aviation Report was invited to attend a hover-snorkel demonstration at the Patterson River, Carrum during February, 2022. The crew of HT-342 Bubba gave several spirited passes for the camera.
Aviation Report 