Helitankers are medium-sized helicopters with a belly tank attached.
These aircraft are suited for direct bombing on fires or line-building along the flanks. Helitankers can be used for long-lining (slinging from a fixed hook) without removing the tank, and other activities.
Helitankers generally have a belly tank capacity of 300 gallons. They have two doors which can be opened independently, a foam-injection system, and can be 'self-loaded' from the hover by submerging a hydraulic pump. The water source must be at least 12 inches deep, adequate rotor clearance is needed, and the tank will fully fill in approximately one minute.
Helitanker operations are coordinated by the Rapattack Duty Officer who maintains communications with fire centres and the helicopter operations technicians on board who offer the following services:
- crew delivery,
- bombing,
- off-load, and
- emergency medical assistance.
Crew delivery typically consists of deploying rappel crews, their equipment and off-loads, but can also be transporting other types of crews and equipment to fires. Passenger capacity differs with seating configuration and can range from 8 seats (rappel configuration) to 14 seats (standard passenger configuration).
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When a helitanker is used for bombing, it can drop directly on hotspots or be used for line-building. Generally, water is dropped but it can be enhanced with foam if required. The tank can be filled from portable retardant tanks, lakes or other water sources with suitable rotor clearance.
With trained helicopter operations technicians in the aircraft and trained crews on the ground, water reservoirs can be filled by off-loading. The helitanker can hover above a crew and drop 1½-inch rubber-lined fire hose through the canopy and begin pumping (off-load) the water into the reservoir. It takes about 90 seconds to off-load 150 gallons.
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Helitankers can carry an emergency medical stretcher, and with a trained helicopter operations technicians and first aid attendants on board, they can assist in provinding emergency evacuation service to injured persons in isolated areas.
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