'It's big': Yukon helicopter company's new machine is ready to fight wildfires - Action News
Home WebMail Thursday, November 14, 2024, 03:36 AM | Calgary | 6.3°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
North

'It's big': Yukon helicopter company's new machine is ready to fight wildfires

A Whitehorse-based helicopter company is boasting a new acquisition, and saying it'll bethe largest heavy-lift helicopter in the North.

'There's really no comparison in the North right now,' says Cole Hodinski of Horizon Helicopters

The new Firecat helicopter. According to the Airbus website, an H215 can lift up to 4,500 kilograms. (Submitted by Horizon Helicopters)

A Whitehorse-based helicopter company is boasting a new acquisition and according to Horizon Helicopters, it'll bethe largest heavy-lift helicopter in the North.

The company owners say the main purpose for the new helicopter will be with firefighting and use in the mining sector.

"There's really no comparison in the North right now," says Cole Hodinski, operations manager and chief pilot for Horizon Helicopters.

He says when the Airbus H215 twin-engine aircraftarrives in Whitehorse, it will be hard to miss.

"It's big ... It's 62 feet long [18.9 metres] and 16 and a half feet [5 metres] tall," Hodinski said.

According to the Airbus website, an H215 can lift up to 4,500 kilograms.For comparison, a 2015Ford F-150 truck weighs about 2,500 kilograms.

The helicopter is now in Vancouver. It will be flown to Yukon next month. (Submitted by Horizon Helicopters)

It can also be equipped to carry up to 20 passengers.

Hodinski says the chopper called a Firecat has been set up with firefighting equipment.

"It has a 4,000-litre bucket on it, but it is also going to have a 4,200-litre tank on it. So it's quite a punch for fire suppression," he said.

The Firecat takes 50 seconds to fill its water tank and will be able to drop a large amount of water on forest fires with quick turn around.

Hodinski says the new helicopter could also be used in other parts of North America, for example in California during the winter months.

The newly-purchased helicopter is currently sitting in Vancouver. It will be flown to Whitehorse next month.