Simplex® Aerospace has announced it received an order to develop a Fire Attack™ system for the Chinese manufactured AC313 helicopter. The development contract, signed between Simplex® Aerospace and the Changhe manufacturing facility in China, is the first development contract for Simplex® with a Chinese aircraft manufacturer. The newly signed contract includes the delivery of multiple Fire Attack™ systems through 2014.
The new Fire Attack™ tank for the AC313 will hold approximately 4,000 liters, nearly 1,050 U.S. gallons, of water. The new AC313 Fire Attack™ system will use the Simplex® Aerospace retractable hover pump. The retractable pump, which was purchased by Simplex® Aerospace from Aero Union in 2012, is currently in use on the Sikorsky Firehawk and the Eurocopter EC225. The new Fire Attack™ system will also use a camera system integrated into a AC313 multifunction displays instead of cargo mirrors providing enhanced visibility to monitor the hover pump and door operations. The tank also incorporates features like data event recording, fire fighting foam capability, newly developed level sensors, and Simplex® Aerospace’s industry leading door system for wheeled helicopters.
Mark Zimmerman, Simplex® Aerospace President and CEO, stated, “The new AC313 Fire Attack™ system will provide a state of the art solution for wild land fire fighting in China”. He also commented that the new system meets Simplex® Aerospace’s goal of working with helicopter manufacturers to provide the highest quality, best value products in the industry. He further commented that the new Simplex® Aerospace high rise building water cannon, called Sky Cannon™, will be added to the AC313 in 2014.
The Simplex® Aerospace SkyCannon™ High Rise Firefighting system is the result of several years of research and development into creating the best method for combating the threat of high rise building fires that are beyond the reach of ground based firefighting equipment. Fires in high rise buildings can quickly grow and climb out of the range of conventional ground based fire fighting systems. Using a fire fighting system mounted in a helicopter allows fire fighters to reach the fire before it spreads to the upper floors of the building. The Simplex® Aerospace Sky Cannon™ system gives fire fighters a new tool to save lives and property in the event of a high rise building fire. The Simplex® Aerospace SkyCannon™ will be equipped with a Max-Viz 600 Enhanced Vision System.
Simplex® Aerospace Fire Attack™ systems are regarded worldwide as a critical tool in aerial firefighting missions. Simplex® Fire Attack™ systems are trusted by OEM’s, private operators and government firefighting agencies for their durability, reliability, efficiency and safety. Simplex® Aerospace is committed to producing the most technologically advanced certified aerial firefighting systems on the market with the features and quality customers demand.
Founded in 1946, Simplex® has built a reputation as the leader in design, manufacturing, and certification of aerial application systems and mission equipment for helicopters. Simplex® maintains its industry leadership by incorporating the latest technology in designing and manufacturing systems from high-strength, low-weight composite materials to produce reliable and cost-effective systems for firefighting, agriculture, utilities maintenance and other aerial applications.
