Swedish Armed Forces certified for fire-fighting ops

The Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing has just been approved to carry water buckets for fire suppression under its Black Hawks and NH90s. The unit has previously performed fire-fighting operations with its Super Pumas and some of the now retired helicopter types, including the Vertol 107, the Bell 204 and the Bell 412. As new helicopter types are getting operational, and the last two HKP 10 Super Pumas are approaching their imminent retirement, the unit has now been upgraded with better fire-fighting capacities.

The buckets that are to be carried under the Black Hawk (HKP 16) and NH90 (HKP 14) have a capacity of 2500 litres, and they can either be carried using a long-line sling or directly connected to the cargo hook.

According Swedish law, the Armed Forces should support the society in the event of a crisis, given that this can be done with the existing resources. This leaves no room for additional resources, money or staff to the task, why no flight crews will be put in fire-fighting alert. Instead, crews are welcome to cancel vacations and holidays in order to help out if, and when, they can.