photo research banner

photojournalism button
photo research button photo services button staff directory button

Fire Aviation-1


Mount Jefferson can be seen between this Sikorsky S61 helicopter and its bambi bucket (a bambi bucket is a collapsible bucket slung below a helicopter). The airport in Madras, Oregon served as the helibase for the Eyerly Fire on the Deschutes National Forest. A helibase is the main location within the general incident area for parking, fueling, maintaining, and loading helicopters. The helibase is usually located near the incident base.
02cs1811 		Helicopter missions that transport external loads increase risk. All helicopters have different maximum performance capabilities, so be aware of the capabilities of the specific helicopter that you are working with.
02cs1812 		The pilots involved in wild land fire fighting are a small group of highly specialized pilots. Each helicopter pilot can drop their bucket into a small water source as if they were threading a needle.
02cs1760 		Jeremy Bailey and Jonathan Voe, both members of Santa Fe Helitack, Los Alamos, New Mexico review a map of the Eyerly Fire. The airport in Madras, Oregon served as the helibase for the Eyerly Fire on the Deschutes National Forest. A helibase is the main location within the general incident area for parking, fueling, maintaining, and loading helicopters. The helibase is usually located near the incident base. Helitack crew members are fire fighters trained in the technical and logistical use of helicopters for fire.
02cs1807
The retardant used on the Eyerly and Cache Mountain Fires on the Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon is one of the most environmentally friendly retardants on the market. Each pallette produces 1,850 gallons, which is the equivalent of three to four bambi bucket (a bambi bucket is a collapsible bucket slung below a helicopter) dips depending on the size of the bucket.
02cs1794 		The retardant plant used on the Eyerly Fire, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon. Retardant plants are located in close proximity to water sources and fires in order to continuously attack hot spots and to assist ground crews in areas too hot to handle.
02cs1795 		The retardant plant used on the Eyerly Fire, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon. Retardant plants are located in close proximity to water sources and fires in order to continuously attack hot spots and to assist ground crews in areas too hot to handle.
02cs1796 		A Sikorsky S61 heavy helicopter approaches a retardant plant used on the Eyerly Fire, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon. Retardant plants are located in close proximity to fires in order to continuously attack hot spots and to assist ground crews in areas too hot to handle.
02cs1789
The retardant plant on the Eyerly Fire The retardant used on the Eyerly and Cache Mountain Fires on the Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon is one of the most environmentally friendly retardants on the market. The retardant is delivered in powder form on palettes and is mixed with water to form a coagulant made to adhere to the vegetation it is applied to prohibit/slow or down the advancing fire. Each pallette produces 1,850 gallons, which is the equivalent of three to four bambi bucket (a bambi bucket is a collapsible bucket slung below a helicopter) dips depending on the size of the bucket.
02cs1792 		A helicopter leaves the helibase with Mount Jefferson in the background on its way to assist ground crews fighting the Cache Mountain Fire, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon.
02cs1753 		The Cache Mountain Fire helibase at the House of the Metolius, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon. A helibase is the main location within the general incident area for parking, fueling, maintaining, and loading helicopters. The helibase is usually located near the incident base. Mount Jefferson can be seen in the background.
02cs1814 		The Cache Mountain Fire helibase at the House of the Metolius, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon. A helibase is the main location within the general incident area for parking, fueling, maintaining, and loading helicopters. The helibase is usually located near the incident base.
02cs1813
Helicopter missions that transport external loads increase risk. All helicopters have different maximum performance capabilities, so be aware of the capabilities of the specific helicopter that you are working with.
02cs1754 		Helicopter missions that transport external loads increase risk. All helicopters have different maximum performance capabilities, so be aware of the capabilities of the specific helicopter that you are working with.
02cs1755 		Helitack crew members check frequencies used for air operations. A large part of the success of a helicopter mission is the result of good communications between the pilot and the user on the ground. Accurate target and hazard descriptions are essential to a safe mission. It is imperative that air to ground frequencies be used only for that purpose and not for chatter between crews.
02cs1809 		Certain helicopter missions push the limits of the aircraft's performance capabilities. Items that reduce the effectiveness and increase the risk of the mission include weight, temperature, altitude, and visibility.
02cs1783
A large part of the success of a helicopter mission is the result of good communications between the pilot and the user on the ground. Accurate target and hazard descriptions are essential to a safe mission. One of the cardinal rules for ground crews is to relay this information to pilots.
02cs1798 		Helicopter missions that transport external loads increase risk. All helicopters have different maximum performance capabilities, so be aware of the capabilities of the specific helicopter that you are working with.
02cs1804 		Helicopter missions that transport external loads increase risk. All helicopters have different maximum performance capabilities, so be aware of the capabilities of the specific helicopter that you are working with.
02cs1806 		The pilots involved in wild land fire fighting are a small group of highly specialized pilots. Each pilot can drop their bucket into a small water source as if they were threading a needle.
02cs1797

Fire Aviation 2
greenline

greenline


Photography Center Home Page USDA Home Page