| Helicopters and choppers may not be the most | | | | Fire Extinguishers: Apart from water, the |
| innovative of today's aircraft, as compared to | | | | helicopter also uses chemicals and water |
| jets and shuttles, but when it comes to fighting | | | | enhancers like foams, gels and specially |
| crisis, it the most important of all. Rescue | | | | formulated fire retardants. The helicopter is also |
| missions, special task forces or relief missions- the | | | | used for Foam System Operations. The |
| helicopter has become the integral part of any | | | | manufacturers produce foam of different |
| government body, be it in administration or the | | | | chemical densities to suit the requirements of |
| military. | | | | different aircraft. |
| One of the most important tasks that the | | | | The foam is added to the water buckets in |
| helicopters undertake is fire fighting- not fire | | | | concentration levels of 0.5% to 1.0%, though they |
| fighting in residential area, but in huge areas like in | | | | may differ according to circumstances. Foam |
| the case of forest fires and terrorist attacks. The | | | | tanks are almost similar in use to water tanks but |
| destruction is on a large scale and efficient and | | | | they require power pumps to operate. |
| quick management of crisis is required. A lot | | | | Advantages: The helicopter is also an excellent |
| depends on the competency of the pilot as well, | | | | way to survey the entire area and keep a |
| because gadgets are of no use in ignorant hands. | | | | contact with the ground personnel regarding the |
| Techniques: One of the simplest and the most | | | | current situation. The standard method of |
| effective methods that the chopper uses is the | | | | controlling fire is to start at the "heel" or the |
| water bucket. It is actually a portable bucket-like | | | | starting point of the fire and to continue along the |
| structure, hung externally below the helicopter | | | | "flanks" or the side, towards the area where it is |
| using cargo hooks. The mechanism is not very | | | | headed. This gives the added advantage of |
| complicated, and once emptied, it can be refilled | | | | checking whether the fire has changed course and |
| very quickly from nearby lakes and ponds, | | | | affected other area or not. Moreover, a fire |
| making it very efficient and quick in times of crisis. | | | | spreads more rapidly if it is moving uphill, because |
| Another such tool is the Bambi Bucket, which is a | | | | of the wind and other driving factors, and such |
| slightly advanced version of the water bucket and | | | | situations are most efficiently controlled from the |
| can be carried in distant regions as well, making | | | | air. |
| fire fighting possible even in those remote regions | | | | These techniques that can be performed with |
| where there are hardly any facilities for such | | | | helicopters make them a boon during rescue |
| severe possibilities. | | | | operations. |