Aerial Ignition Device Procurement

Notice ID: 12837120P0021

Description: Aerial Ignition is a critical firing technique used during the management of prescribed and natural fire. It is also one of the most dangerous activities that is performed with helicopters. The fight profile used during this mission is low and slow, flying just above the tree tops in some cases and with very little forward air speed. In aeronautical performance charts, this combination of elevation and airspeed is referred to as the Deadman’s curve, and leaves little margin of safety in the event of an aircraft emergency. As a result, in order to manage risk to the extent possible, we must remain in this profile for as little time as possible. The aerial ignition mission involves the delivery of spheres through an approved device mounted in the helicopter. The operator of the device is completely exposed to environmental influences as his/her door of the aircraft is removed during the mission. There are generally 2-3 other people in the aircraft, including the Pilot, all of whom are exposed to this complex flight profile.

The objective of an aerial ignition mission is to ignite wildland fuels on the ground over large areas which would be too time-consuming for available resources, or in area where fuels and topography make ground ignitions unsafe for firefighters.