Ground-Breaking Removable Water Bomber System for the Super Puma/Cougar* Family

*The Super Puma/Cougar family refers the following helicopters: EC225/EC725, AS332 L1/AS532 AL

During wildfire operations, helicopters are oftentimes the only means of access to areas where the relief or aerology prevents planes from performing accurate water bombing. Eurocopter, with its long-standing experience in water bomber rotocraft, has recently developed a ground-breaking, removable water bomber system for the Super Puma/Cougar family that surpasses other systems such as buckets or belly tanks with limited volume. In 2007, Eurocopter signed an agreement with the French Sécurité Civile to use and test an EC725 as a water bomber in firefighting operations over the course of several weeks in Corsica: it performed 67 flight hours, 23 firefighting missions and 310 operational water drops (910 tons of water). During this trial, the water bomber proved to be a state-of-the-art firefighting weapon. The shortest demonstrated starting sequence (including checks) from call to takeoff was 15 minutes, and the best time clocked for removing the water installation from the cabin was a mere 11 minutes!

Super Puma/Cougar family helicopters are immediately deployable, can take off, land and maneuver in confined, narrow areas, hover with precision and fly within a wide range of speed. With the water bomber system installed, these helicopters arrive fast on the scene to douse flames with accuracy, even in near-urban areas, while providing optimal safety. In addition, the helicopters’ in-flight refill capability in the hover provides maximum firefighting efficiency.

Drawing upon the valuable advice and experience of forest firefighting professionals, Eurocopter developed the water bomber system using proven and reliable technology and with the collaboration of specialized partners, in order to meet professionals’ highest expectations. The development concept, which incorporated the use of existing structures, reduced system weight, etc., minimizes operating costs for operators, which in turn, trickles down to the end users and taxpayers.