The rapid firefighting water bombers of Greece
European aerial firefighting services are mainly activated during the summers when hot and dry conditions prevail, especially around the Mediterranean. Greece has an interesting mixed force of aircraft and helicopters for just the task.
The most common aircraft type is the large sized, bright red-yellow coloured Canadair-Bombardier CL-215 Scoopers and CL-415 Super scoopers amphibians. Less known, but an important asset in the Greece firefighting fixed wing inventory isthe PZL M-18 Dromader. VayuAerospace Review were offered a close look at these aircraft, based at Tatoi-Dekelia, just north of Athens, which is home base of the Dromader flying unit 359 Public Services Air Support Squadron (MAEDY).
It was April when we spoke with Hellenic Air Force Major PetrosKazakos, one of the Dromader pilots, on eve ofthe expected ‘action’ and just before the aircraft were detached to various locations for their summer operations from May to October. This was avery busy time for the unit as final maintenance was carried out, pilots on focussed training and the squadron on making preparations for their summer deployments.
The squadron has 21 aircraft, 18 PZL M-18B single seatersplus 3 PZL M-18BS twin-seaters, for pilot training. The Dromaders were built by the Polish PZL-Mielec aircraft plant, which is currently part of Sikorsky Aircraft Company.Delivered in 1983, the aircraft are powered by a single rotary piston PZL-KALISZ model Asz-621-M18 engine, giving the aircraft 967 horsepower and a top speed of 228 kmph. Since their delivery the Dromaders have incorporated many Greek-origin modifications including on the wing, fuel tanks, increasing capacity by more than 70% and flight time from 2,5 to 4,5 hours. Additional improvementswere made on the type’s overall agility by installing new flaps with extended angle capacity. Major Kazakos also mentioned that the Hellenic Dromaders are different than those from other operators as they were modified by 359 MAEDY installing a hydraulic water drop hatch instead of a mechanical one. This has provided pilots the extra option to release the water over a 3-12 seconds time frame, instead all at once. Further, by installing a foam generator in the water tank, the pilots now havea selection of optionsfor fighting fires.
The single seat Dromaders are detached, mostly in pairs throughout Greece which normally include locations like Andravida AFB, Kalamata AFB and Santorini AFB. A detachment of two aircraft hasabout 12 ground crew and 6 pilots. The day shift includes 3 pilots, of which 2 are involved with flying operations while one is in command to coordinate activities.
Water bombing is only executed by daylight owing flight safety regulations. The 359 MAEDY Dromaderscan operate from first light (30 min before sunrise) till last light (30 min after sunset). When airborne, a pilot can fly up to 3 hours and when needed, another pilot will take over for the next 3 hours. Major Kazakos explains that this sequence plan is in place in consideration of flight safety. “If the fire location is some 10 miles distance, one can do about 10-12 water drops over the 3 hours time frame”. As the job has to be carried out with full concentration, under difficult circumstances and last not to forget the high temperatures, it is necessary that another pilot takes the next shift, in order to avoid signs of fatigue.
The Dromaders have a response time of 15 minutes to get airborne, during whichtime, the pilot makes his provisional flight plan towards the reported fire location, ground crew then fill up water tanks to avoid unnecessary periods of high waterload. A portable GPS is used to reach the fire location and once on the scene, the pilots first fly an orbit above the fire location to orientate themselves on wind direction, obstacles such as electric cables and pylons, area height differences in order to determine the right approach to target the fire spot. The minimum height for pilots drop their water load is 10 meters and theymust avoid flying through smoke haze to keep their view free.
Major Kazakosconcludes that there are no other means for water bombing. “It is just training and experience which makes one flexible, adapting to every situation and thereafter carrying out accurate and precise water bombing – where and when needed”.
Text and photos Peter ten Berg