HANGAR TALK
Recoil Obtains FAA STC for Internal UH-60 Black Hawk Aerial Fire Suppression System Tank
Recoil Aerospace Inc. recently announced U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval of its Tsunami Internal AFSS 790-gallon tank for the UH-60 Black Hawk series helicopters.
U.S.-based Recoil’s Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SR12058AK for the UH-60 Black Hawk series helicopters represents the only carbon fiber system of this design approved for UH-60 operations.
The approval expands the Recoil family of aerial fire suppression products, joining the already FAA-approved Tsunami External AFSS 1,000-gallon Tank for Super Puma and Black Hawk helicopters.
This breakthrough STC is applicable to all UH-60 type certificate holders as well as all model variants of the UH-60 and S-70 Black Hawk.
Importantly, the Recoil AFSS tanks are designed and manufactured exclusively in the United States of America. With the approval, U.S. firefighting programs can add this key technology upgrade for the current wildfire season. Recoil AFSS tanks are available for immediate acquisition. Given high-volume water drops and rapid turnaround time, the UH-60 AFSS tanks can help control new wildfires and protect homes in an urban interface fire outbreak.
“With these multiple STC’s approved, we are equipping fire aviation operators here in the U.S. and globally at the start of an already active fire season,” states Recoil President and
Pilot Joseph Rice. “Our rapid installation combined with the industry’s fastest approved airspeed allows high volume water delivery with rapid turnarounds.”
Recoil AFSS tanks are backed by the company’s U.S.-based customer support and service.
Key features of the tank system include: In-cabin mounting; 790-gallon capacity, left or right side snorkel placement for rapid hover-filling; 140-knot approved VNE airspeed; five to seven second salvo drop; and – importantly – it can be ground- filled from a fire hydrant or water tender.
“This design brings high-volume water drops with punching power to the fire line,” notes Rice. “Fire helicopter operators can fly the most effective aerial suppression operations possible; they can be fire-ready with Recoil.”
Increased airspeeds can bring more efficient aerial suppression operations, with rapid response to incidents and faster turnarounds between drops.
The Recoil AFSS design has caught the eye of U.S. fire/utility operators like Montana’s Central Copters.
“This is a game changer for us,” stated Will Jacobs, chief pilot of Central Copters and Recoil’s launch customer for the Tsunami Internal AFSS Tank. “The installed Recoil Tsunami Internal AFSS Tank still allows us access to the UH-60 cargo hook for additional mission assignments without having to remove it due to its light weight.”
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