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Air Spray

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  • Comment: Consider adding an infobox and some images BO | Talk 01:17, 7 January 2013 (UTC)

Air Spray Aviation Ltd. of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and Chico, California is a private company specializing in aerial wildfire suppression using air tanker or water bomber aircraft. Air Spray is also a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Organization, and carries out an assortment of maintenance activities on a variety of aircraft types. Air Spray was owned and operated by Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame inductee, Donald T. Hamilton until his passing in 2011. The company continued to be owned by the Hamilton family of Edmonton, Alberta..[1]

History

Air Spray Ltd. was founded in 1967, and began its aerial wildfire suppression operation with one 1945 Douglas B-26 Invader converted to an air tanker. Air Spray's first contract was with the Province of Alberta. Next the company put out fires for the Yukon Territory’s government with two more B-26s. In 1973 Air Spray's maintenance facilities were relocated from Edmonton, Alberta to the Red Deer Regional Airport at Springbrook, Alberta[2] due to the availability of an aircraft hangar and space for expansion. During the next few years, the company expanded, carrying out several seasonal contracts with various Provincial governments. The fleet grew an average of one tanker per year, eventually including 22 B26 air tankers and 8 bird dog aircraft operating under contract.

During the summer months, when most firefighting aircraft are on location around the country, the Air Spray staff at Red Deer perform general aircraft maintenance and repairs.[3]

In 2011, Air Spray operated several aircraft in Mexico to combat wildfires in Coahuila[4]

In 2012 Air Spray expanded its operation into the United States with the establishment of an air tanker maintenance facility in Chico, California.[5] The company purchased a BAe146[6] passenger jet aircraft for conversion to an air tanker.[7]

Aircraft

The B 26 aircraft, built during the 1940s and flown in both World War II and the Korean War. They were converted to air tankers by fitting the old bomb bay with a 900 US gallon aluminum tank to hold the retardant or slurry, a mixture of clay, water and dye which is released over a fire.[8] The B 26 flew over 30 seasons with Air Spray throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Flying at a speed of 210 knots, the B 26 was the work horse of Air Spray's air tanker fleet.

In 1986 Air Spray was awarded a contract by the Alberta Government for the operation and maintenance of four Canadair CL215 air tankers. Air Spray operated and maintained the four aircraft for 17 years. In 1998, Air Spray purchased two CL215 aircraft, and was the first private owner and operator of this type of aircraft in the world. A third CL215 aircraft expanded the range of operation to include forest fire suppression missions in the Yukon Territories, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. In early 2009 the Air Spray CL215 aircraft were sold to Turk Hava Kurumu ( Turkish Aeronautical Association).

In 1994, Air Spray added to its fleet the L-188 Electra, a fast, maneuverable turboprop plane which was converted to carry large loads of fire retardant (3000 gallons or over 11,000 litres). The more powerful vehicle contributed to a better margin of safety for pilots. Air Spray used the Electra for the Province of B.C. operations in 1994 and did so for Alberta a year later. The larger turbine aircraft eventually took over the work of the B-26 fleet which was retired at the end of the fire season in 2004.[9] In 2013, Air Spray had the largest fleet of L188 air tankers in the world.[10]

Air Spray approached the former Aero Union in California to manufacture a tank for the L188 Electra that would surpass the existing 12 door tank used by the industry on some air tanker aircraft at the time. After certification by Air Spray, the Retardant Aerial Delivery System (RADS) was installed on the L188 Electra. This improved design consisted of two doors operated by an on-board computer to control the amount of the opening releasing the retardant at any one time, from a long straight line to a full drop of 3,000 US gallons/11,365 litres of retardant, better meeting the individual demands of each fire situation. Air Spray is the current owner of the STC[clarification needed] for the RADS tank for the Electra L188 air tanker.

In addition to its fleet of air tankers, Air Spray has operated a number of "bird dog" aircraft in support of its air tanker activities.[11] The crew aboard the bird dog includes a pilot and one or two air attack officers (AAO), who locate the fire, determine the optimal flight path for the following tanker, and recommend effective retardant dispersal patterns.

Flight Simulator

Air Spray has developed a Transport Canada certified flight simulator for training pilots on the L188 Electra and TC 690 aircraft.

References

  1. ^ Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail (10 September 2014). Polar Winds: A Century of Flying the North. Dundurn. pp. 178–. ISBN 978-1-4597-2382-5.
  2. ^ "Lightning strikes, highway collision spark new season of forest wildfires". By TIFFANY CRAWFORD, VANCOUVER SUN July 3, 2014
  3. ^ "Air Spray Aviation continues to grow". Red Deer Advocate, Harley Richards April 09, 2014.
  4. ^ "Air Spray flying to Mexico’s aid". By Harley Richards - Red Deer Advocate, April 29, 2011
  5. ^ Urseny, Laura. "Canadian company settling in at Chico airport, converting plane to aerial firefighter." ChicoER.com, 28 October 2012.
  6. ^ "BAE 146, United Kingdom". aerospace-technology.com. Retrieved 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ "Canadian company settling in at Chico airport, converting plane to aerial firefighter". ChicoER, By LAURA 10/28/2012.
  8. ^ Bell, Gord (November 2011). History of Aviation in the BC Forest Service. BC Forest Service.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  9. ^ "Position Report: Vinatge planes dousing flames". Wings Magazine. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Airborne firefighters are only minutes away from assisting those in and around Osoyoos". Osoyoos Times September 25, 2013
  11. ^ "Air Spray Hired to Assist With Wildfires in Mexico". Springbrook Waskasoo Life, 29 April 2001.
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