Bryukhanov A. V., Korshunov N. A. Aerial Wildfire Fighting: History, Current Situation, Problems and Perspectives
1 Federal Research Center Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch Solitary Unit V. N. Sukachev Institute of Forest, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch
Akademgorodok, 50/28, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russian Federation
2 All-Russian Institute on Advanced Training Executives and Specialists of Forestry
Institutskaya str., 17, Pushkino, Pushkinsky District, Moscow Oblast, 141200 Russian Federation
Abstract
How to cite: Bryukhanov A. V.1, Korshunov N. A.2 Aerial wildfire fighting: history, current situation, problems and perspectives // Sibirskij Lesnoj Zurnal (Sib. J. For. Sci.). 2017. N. 5: 37–54 (in Russian with English abstract).
DOI: 10.15372/SJFS20170504
© Bryukhanov A. V., Korshunov N. A., 2017
Nowadays aviation is among the most effective ways of early detection and suppression of wildfires. At the moment for the aerial wildfire fighting a few dozen models of aircraft are used worldwide, which are regularly modernized and renewed. In this article, authors give information about the history of fighting wildfires from the air, as well as analyze the current state of the issue with the use of aircraft and helicopter airtankers for firefighting, both at international level and in the territory of the Russian Federation. It is revealed that the most popular in the world still are the ground-based firefighting aircraft (regardless of the class of the carrying capacity). Amphibious firefighting aircraft now exist only in light (up to 5 tons) and in medium type (up to 15 tons). Among the helicopter aviation, heavy firefighting helicopters are mostly widely spread, as well as medium multipurpose helicopters, which are, apart from suppression, involved into delivery of people and goods to forest fire sites. The article is devoted to the main directions, according to which the development of aircraft tanker equipment abroad and in Russia occurs. The attention is directed to the most promising developments, and specific recommendations on how to increase the effectiveness of the fire aviation usage in Russia are given. Based on the studies carried out, a conclusion is drawn that for different countries there can be promising different types of firefighting aircraft, considering their landing field infrastructure, characteristics of forests and hydro systems, as well as the total area of the forest fund.
