VASILIS KRANITSAS PHOTOGRAPHY
I was underneath it when we were lining it up,” says Ralph Sembach, Erickson’s longtime product and technical support manager for the S-64. “Tey calculated the weight and thickness of the bronze statue and built a special, cagelike harness for it.” Te company names these hardworking helicopters—
“Elvis,” “Olga,” “Isabelle,” “Lucille,” “Bubba,” “Incredible Hulk,” and so on, a trend picked up by other operators, including the Italian government. “Te Italians like to name their helicopters after famous
Native Americans—‘Geronimo,’ ‘Toro Seduto,’ which is ‘Sitting Bull’ in Italian, ‘Aquila Rossa’ is ‘Red Eagle’; another is named ‘Cochise,’” says Sembach. Whenever they’re out in the field, the aircraft’s unique, Instagram-worthy design—some say it resembles a giant dragonfly—along with its orange color, chosen by Jack Erickson, turns heads. “It’s the big dog when it’s out there. Everybody
wants to see it and get a picture in front of it,” says Foote, who’s worked at Erickson for more than 25 years.
A Dedicated Crew Whether it’s logging timber or fighting fires, building bridges or placing power lines, such demanding work takes a toll on the aircraft. As part of its turnkey solution, Erickson supplies the S-64, pilots, and maintenance technicians, and manages the aircraft in the field. A dedicated maintenance team follows the Air Crane every- where, a pit crew of sorts tending to the aircraft’s every fuel and maintenance need. “Te aircraft requires ongoing maintenance
attention. We’re part of the daily operations. Te assigned crew chief stays with the aircraft at all times along with a fuel truck and a service vehicle containing parts and consumables,” says Foote. Technicians feed the S-64 fuel all day, then
continue to work at night, visually inspecting the aircraft nose to tail; servicing fluids; looking for leaks, cracks, and worn parts; performing any necessary scheduled and unscheduled maintenance; and cleaning the aircraft so it’s ready for the morning. It can easily add up to a 16-hour day, according to Foote. “Assigning a specific crew that knows the
history and health of the aircraft means we can see things before they become a discrepancy. Te continual maintenance keeps the aircraft
MARCH 2022 ROTOR 27
flying, enhances safety, and leads to our operational readiness rate of 99% fighting fires in the US,” he says.
MRO, Manufacturing Expertise Opened in 1997 in Central Point, Oregon, Erickson’s FAA Part 145 certified repair station performs maintenance, repair, and overhaul for its fleet of aircraft as well as those owned by third-party operators. Its sheet-metal experts fabricate components and light structural pieces. Te company’s expansive warehouse stores rough forgings ready for machin- ing and an extensive inventory of parts, which are shipped to operators worldwide.
The Erickson S-64 Air Crane’s distinctive design and orange- and-green livery make it hard to miss.
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