McDermott Aviation
AK Aviation Support Services LP is subcontracting McDermott Aviation which has technical compliant helicopters, trained personnel, and adequate experience to meet. It should be noted that McDermott Aviation has been providing aerial firefighting services to the Hellenic Fire Department in cooperation with AK Aviation Support Services for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Firefighting Seasons.
McDermott is a proven and dependable provider of helicopter firefighting services to firefighting agencies and land managers around the world since the year 2000. Since this time, and in line with McDermott Aviation ‘long term’ commitment to improving aerial firefighting effectiveness, they have continually invested in and developed improved equipment, support systems and other technology to meet wildfire conditions. In addition to the ‘hardware’ they have also invested in training and development of many new pilots, engineers, and ground crew. They operate concurrently under three regulatory systems to facilitate the ready transfer of aircraft and crews to any part of the world at short notice.
McDermott has taken the medium helicopter “bread and butter” firefighting support aircraft to a new level with the 214B and is, also, looking to provide additional capacity with the 214ST. The USDA interim report on aerial firefighting (USDA AFUE report March 2020) shows this class of RW aircraft to be the most efficient and effective means of tackling fires and the Bell 214’s are the premium assets in this class.
McDermott has a proven track record of reliable, responsive, compliant, and effective firefighting services to agencies around the world. Both the 214B and ST have many 1,000’s of hours under wildfire conditions with tanks, fire buckets and for firefighter transport.
As McDermott has proven comprehensively over the years of working for fire agencies – a good aircraft and delivery system is only as good as its support package allows it to be. They have worked diligently with agencies and regulators, aircraft and component manufacturers and fuel companies to provide effective and efficient turnkey solutions for aerial firefighting. The record of availability is second to none and they have set the standards for innovation and reliability in delivery. MCD remain responsive to changes in agency requirements and flexible in the application of their accumulated knowledge, experience, and equipment to the benefit of aerial firefighting globally. The company has invested heavily in helicopters and crew to provide a world class aerial firefighting capability which can respond to emergencies in any part of the world.
Pay’s Air Service
Pay’s Air Service Pty which has the technical compliant aircraft, trained personnel and adequate experience to meet the mission profile. It should be noted that Pay’s Air Service provided aerial firefighting services to the Hellenic Fire Department in cooperation with AK Aviation Support Services for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Fire Season.
Pay’s Air Service, based in Scone NSW, is a commercial operation that currently provides fixed wing aircraft and other support equipment to both domestic and international agencies. These agencies are responsible for providing specialized aviation resources for firefighting and other land management services. Pay’s Air Service operates an approved maintenance facility from its base in Scone and provides a high level of operational reliability across all aspects of the business. Pay’s licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, along with operational staff, have provided numerous innovative engineering solutions to enhance our operational capabilities.
Pay’s Air Service has been operating FireBosses since 2013 where they upgraded one of their Air Tractor 802’s with the Wipline 10000 amphibious float. The addition of the floats and associated water scooping equipment allows the FireBoss to be a self-filling firefighting platform. This has resulted in shorter turnaround times giving it a significant increase in productivity.
Pay’s has provided aerial firefighting in Australia since 1993 where, starting in NSW, was the first company to fight fires using an 802. Pay’s currently has contracts in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania and has also provided some call when needed contracts in Queensland.
Also, Pay’s has provided various firefighting services around the world landing the first international contract in Italy and after that operating for four seasons in Portugal using both of the 802’s. Most recently, starting in May 2021, Pay’s operated a contract for the Hellenic Fire Service in Greece where 8 pilots and 6 engineers were sent to assist with the fire season operating 4 of Pay’s Fire Bosses at 3 different bases – Volos, Andravida and Tatoi. In the 2022 Firefighting Season in Greece, Pay’s Air Service operated 6 Fire Bosses and 4 Wheeled Air Tractors assisting the Hellenic Fire Department with wildfire suppression. Lastly, in 2023 Pay’s had a strong presence during the Greek Fire Firefighting season with 9 Fire Bosses and 4 Wheeled Air Tractors based on 5 bases.
