Aviation’s positive role in the battle to save the planet
In an ironic twist of fate, climate change looks to require MORE FLIGHTS TO FIGHT AN ENVIRONMENTALLY INDUCED CHALLENGE—UNCONTROLLED FOREST FIRES. Below are articles in which the People’s Republic of China announces (not showing) its new aerial firefighting aircraft, SimpleFlying inventories the existing fleet with these capabilities and 3 APPENDICES (research, inventory and capacity) to show where the world is in its preparedness to stop these fires..
The need for this aviation safety’s role in the preservation of persons and property- in particular forests which have positive eco benefits and contribute natural beauty—is compelling. It is an issue which this Journal has been trumpeting, e.g.:
- 2021 US Aerial Firefighting Capacity under a Level 5 threat
- 2020 NBAA aerial firefighting story sends a great message on GA and airports
- 2019 New Aerial Firefighting Aircraft come to California, but more safe aerial assets are needed
Our industry must respond to this challenge to save the planet and to show those who vilify aviation that our capabilities are important to saving forests.
China’s self-built firefighting aircraft completes first test flight
CGTN
China’s self-developed Modern Ark 60 (MA60) [1]firefighting aircraft[2] has completed its inaugural test flight, laying the foundation for the subsequent phases of development flight testing, qualification approval flight testing and airworthiness certification, said the developer Aviation Industry Corporation of China [3](AVIC) on Monday.
As a multi-purpose aircraft, the plane is a large- and medium-sized fixed-wing plane with independent intellectual property rights.
It is able to conduct water bombing, aerial communication and command as well as fire prevention and monitoring. It has the ability to quickly switch between the functions of transportation and fire extinguishing system, and can undertake emergency personnel rescue tasks and material transportation.
Featuring fast cruise speed, long flight range, high reliability and robust service support system, the plane provides significant advantages in the transportation of disaster relief materials and long-distance cross-regional aircraft deployment.
With its development started in June 2021, the jet is expected to obtain the airworthiness certification this year.
Tasks including overall electrical inspection, landing gear control and engine testing were conducted before the maiden test flight.
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What’s The Latest In Aerial Firefighting Research & Development?
PUBLISHED SEP 11, 2022
Many nations worldwide are pushing for greater aerial firefighting capabilities amid the rising fears over climate change and the increase in wildfires. Amid ongoing concerns, commercial companies, militaries, and governments have been proactive in developing various versions of these aircraft that can combat fires.
Whether modifying existing aircraft to adopt firefighting capabilities, developing new aircraft, or retrofitting removable kits into military planes for rapid response, it is clear it has become a WORLDWIDE PRIORITY.
Airbus A400M
Airbus’ A400M is a good example of retrofitting a kit into an existing aircraft to provide the capability for a far cheaper price tag. In July, the manufacturer announced it ran a successful series of tests of its military airlifter in Spain, operating the removable demonstrator kit.
It was in collaboration with the 43rd Group of the Spanish Air Force, the European authorities in Firefighting operations, and the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO). The goal was to determine how much water the aircraft could drop and whether the kit was viable.
Airbus said the campaign took place in daylight conditions as the A400M would fly at a low height of 150 feet and speeds of 125 knots. The aircraft would drop 20 tonnes of water in less than ten seconds.
The four-engine aircraft has been flying since December 2009 and entered into service in 2013 with the French Air Force as its launch customer. Airbus built the turboprop to replace aging aircraft, like the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. To compare, the Hercules and the Boeing 747 Supertanker – both used for firefighting – can carry between 5 and 25 tonnes of water.
Airbus intends to test the kit during nighttime conditions soon.
Embraer’s MAFFS II C-390 Millennium
Brazil’s Embraer is inching closer to its C-390 Millennium aircraft to perform improved firefighting missions. On September 5th, the company announced it had completed flight tests under the certification campaign for the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS II), an improved version of its predecessor developed in the 1970s.
The system is also a RORO design and can drop up to 3,000 gallons of water (11,300 liters) with or without fire retardant water. It can quickly be installed into the aircraft’s cargo compartment and only needs aircraft power to operate.
Embraer completed the tests at its facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo State, in Brazil, as the last step before being certified by the Brazilian Military Certification Authority (IFI). The tests included several in-flight water drops, and Embraer said it demonstrated “excellent aspects of flight quality and maneuverability,” which is essential for flying at low speeds.
Compared to the original MAFFS, the improved version replaces five tanks with one large one. The system can be pressurized by a compressor in the air instead of completing that process on the ground, which saves significant time. It can also be deployed more rapidly to the fire as its cargo ramp and door can stay closed, which reduces drag.
China’s AG600M
China’s newest version of the AG600 seaplane, the AG600M, completed its maiden flight taking off and landing on the water on August 29th. Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the registered B-0DCC aircraft successfully took off from the Zhanghe Reservoir across from the Jingmen-Zhanghe Airport and, after an 18-minute test flight, landed on water.
The first variant of the amphibious water bomber was supposed to have its first flight in 2014, but it was delayed until 2017. The new prototype has been built with several improvements and is expected to start firefighting missions in 2023 and will enter the market in 2025, AVIC says.
Four Dongan WJ-6 turboprop engines run the aircraft, and its maximum take-off weight is quite a steady increase from the previous variant. The AG600 had a 53.5 tonnes MTOW, compared to the AG600 M’s 60 tonnes one. It can allegedly stay in the air for a considerable 12 hours and can carry 50 passengers.
Aerotime noted that the size of the water bomber is larger than typical amphibious aircraft and is more like the single-aisle Boeing 737 or the Airbus A320.
Chinese state media outlet CGTN said that AVIC conducted multiple tests during the flight and claimed it was in good condition. The AG600M completed its maiden flight from the ground on May 31st.
EU to hasten firefighting aircraft purchase plans
Only months after the European Union said it was in talks with manufacturers to buy more firefighting aircraft in July, the EU met again on September 5th with its member states and agreed to expedite these plans and establish a fleet soon. Initially, production of these helicopters was set for the second half of this decade but will likely start sooner.
Europe’s wildfires were some worst during this year’s Summer. The meeting on Monday saw the ministers from EU countries and the European Commission discuss plans to advance the purchase of helicopters funded by the EU, Janez Lenarcic, head of the EU’s crisis management, said in a statement, according to Reuters.
“At a European level, we have reached our capacity limit. Some overwhelming fires in some member states did, in fact, not lead to a request for assistance because the countries concerned… knew that no capacities would have been available,” Lenarcic said at the meeting.
Currently, EU countries are responsible for combating fires and can only request the EU as a last resort. The new planes will be bought by member states but will entirely be financed by the EU, Lenarcic said.
While no manufacturers have been named yet, Lenarcic revealed the EU would produce more amphibious aircraft.
Sources: Reuters, CGNT, Aerotime
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APPENDIX A– research
NASA Aeronautics Design Challenge Criteria for 2021-2022
AIAA Request for Proposal Responsive Aerial Fire Fighting Aircraft Background
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APPENDIX B-inventory
CL-415 Enhanced Aerial Firefighter
Viking CL-415EAF Enhanced Aerial Firefighter | Viking Air …
How the $30 Million ‘Super Scooper’ Plane Was Built to Fight Wildfires (businessinsider.com)
Kestrel Reaches Night Aerial Firebombing Approval Milestone | AerialFire Magazine 2021
C-130 Hercules For Lease | About International Air Response (IAR)
APPENDIX C- CAPACITY
USDA USFS
Planes | US Forest Service (usda.gov)
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The Modern Ark 60 (MA60) is a twin-turboprop passenger plane developed by China’s AVIC. It can also be used as a firefighting aircraft, capable of carrying up to 8 tons of water or fire retardant. ↑
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In 2000, Xian Aircraft Company (XAC) launched the MA-60, known as the Xinzhou 60 in China. Developed from the Yun 7-200A, the MA-60 is a 56- to 60-seat turboprop with an extended fuselage, longer range and lighter airframe weight. It is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s engines and equipped with Collins avionics. It costs one-third less than comparable Western turboprops. In 2000, the newly formed Shenzhen Financial Leasing Co. signed an agreement with XAC for 60 MA-60s.
Gas turbine engines produced by Pratt & Whitney Canada, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation of Hartford, Connecticut, power the Y-7 200A aircraft produced by Xian Aircraft. According to the requirement of CCAR-25 and FAR-25,XI’AN AIRCRAFT COMPANY has designed and developed a short-medium range aircraft MA60 (Modem Ark 60) that is a twin turbo-prop multi-role aircraft with a commuter services as its primary roles. It has a maximum take-off weight of 21,800kg and a seating capacity of up to 60 passengers in the high density version. With a pressurized cabin, the aircraft possesses the level of comfort comparable to trunk aircraft. The aircraft is well-suited to fulfil a variety of other roles such as executive transport, light package carrier, remote sensing and aerial research services, coast guard, border patrol, air ambulance and other community services, etc. MA60 is a state-of-art design that can be a cost-effective solution in a wide variety of roles. The MA60, powered by Pratt and Whitney PW-127J turboprop engines, is China’s first regional aircraft designed and produced in line with international standards. It has a maximum speed of 514 km per hour and a flight range of 2,450 km or four hours. ↑
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owned by the PRC government. ↑
