VAI Member Spotlight: Helitak Fire Fighting Equipment, Australia Maker of expandable belly tanks for various helicopter types helps operators contain wildfires in Australia. By Jen Boyer Almost 20 years ago, as wildfires raged hotter, longer, and larger around the world, helicopter operators didn’t have time to wait for new, larger designs to enter the market. They needed a way to do more with their existing fleet of aircraft, especially in Australia, which is known for intense bushfires due to its hot, dry climate. The founders of Helitak Fire Fighting Equipment saw a way to meet the need for tank upgrades and, in 2006, established the company in Lake McDonald, Queensland, Australia, after assembling a team of aeronautical engineers and helicopter pilots with experience fighting wildfires and bushfires. They then set out to design and produce a new helicopter belly tank. Adding More Space for the Tank The first issue with existing helicopter belly tanks on the market in 2006 was the limited space directly underneath a helicopter for a tank. This meant that an underbelly fire tank couldn’t extend below the skids or wheels, limiting its capacity—even if the helicopter was capable of carrying a far larger payload. As Helitak set about finding a solution that would allow a helicopter to carry more water, the company managed to solve a second issue with the industry’s existing flat tanks at the time—they quickly lost head pressure, making controlling drops very challenging. Expandable Fire-Suppression Tanks Helitak developed its expandable fire-suppression tank to solve both issues for helicopter operators engaged in fighting fires. The tanks are designed for a range of helicopter models, from light single-engine Bell and Airbus variants to the CH-47 Chinook, allowing a tailored solution for each aircraft to take advantage of full carrying capacity. While the tank’s storage size is similar to the size of a belly tank, when filled with water, the Helitak tank expands downward, allowing it to carry 264 gal. (1,000 L) to 2,905 gal. (11,000 L) depending on the aircraft and tank model. The head pressure created by the trapezoid shape of an extendable bag allows for a high-volume, targeted drop pattern. Helitak’s flight test–category cockpit controller gives pilots full control of tank operations. A key feature of the expandable tank is the limited electrical, and absence of structural, modifications required for installation. The tank can also carry foam retardant in addition to water. Hover Pumps Helitak also developed lightweight hover pumps to work with its tanks. Available in four models that meet the electrical power needs for most aircraft, the pumps feature robust engineering, a water-intake mechanism designed to keep rocks and debris from being pulled into the tank, and “plug-and-play” capability with no assembly required. Designed and developed in Australia, Helitak’s equipment is also certified by the FAA. Jen Boyer is a journalist and marketing communicator specializing in aviation. She holds commercial, instrument, flight instructor, and instrument instructor ratings in helicopters and a private rating in airplanes.
