™ ® S-70 Firehawk Multi-role Colorado Backgrounder

In Southern California, a Sikorsky S-70 Firehawk helicopter flies low to drop water on a small wildland fire. The aircraft’s ability to reach remote fires quickly — often before ground firefighters arrive — can prevent a small blaze from spreading out of control. The state of Colorado is looking to acquire several multirole Firehawk aircraft for both firefighting and year-round . Background: Governor Jared Polis has added to the proposed budget for 2021-2022 fiscal year an S-70 Firehawk helicopter as a permanent state-owned asset to fight wildfires. The $23.9 The case to own million cost of the aircraft with associated equipment and training is part of a $78 million firefighting assets package for wildfire relief, mitigation and prevention. The budget also indicates a long-term plan to acquire several Firehawk aircraft this decade for aerial firefighting and other roles, such From Colorado’s as search and rescue. proposed 2021-22 budget

The Colorado Connection: United Rotorcraft, a division of , based at Centennial “These additional resources in Englewood, has developed an aerial firefighting system to convert an S-70 Black enhance the state’s overall Hawk helicopter into a ‘Firehawk.’ The company is the sole installer of the system, which capacity to perform mitigation features a 1,000-gallon (3,785 liter) water tank system and a retractable snorkel — both attached projects, aggressive attack on new fires, and critical support to local to the belly of the aircraft. To give the tank extra clearance from the ground, United Rotorcraft jurisdictions on larger, longer adds an extension to each of the aircraft’s two front wheels (see diagram on page 2.) Optional duration fires. If Colorado has equipment can include a rescue hoist, , specific radios and avionics changes, and a operational control over these medical suite for the cabin. resources, it is more likely that we will have appropriate resources A Proven Aerial Firefighter: United Rotorcraft teamed with Sikorsky, a available to match Colorado’s company and the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) in the late 1990s and early growing fire season regardless of 2000s to adapt three Black Hawk for aerial firefighting. In the ensuing 20 years federal priorities or fire activity in using its three Firehawk aircraft with the United Rotorcraft system, LACoFD has pioneered how other states.” to suffocate wildfires in their nascent stage when a fire is most vulnerable, and while working in close coordination with firefighting crews on the ground and other aircraft. Their success has attracted orders for the new generation S-70 aircraft; from LACoFD; from the City of San Diego; and the largest order to date, from the state of California, whose 12 Firehawk aircraft are being outfitted at United Rotorcraft’s Englewood facility.

Firehawk Videos

• Columbia Air Attack Base New Firehawk Helicopter Training Underway CAL FIRE Communications Bureau, Oct. 13, 2020

• Transformed Into a 'Fire Hawk' For Cal Fire KCBS TV, News Story, June 22, 2020

• Debut of New Firehawk Helicopter City of San Diego Fire-Rescue welcomes its first Firehawk helicopter in Dec. 2019, and demonstrates water drops

• Los Angeles County Fire Dept. Pilot Describes the Firehawk Aircraft’s Strengths AIN TV Video (2017) includes aircraft walk around with Senior Pilot Mike Sagely

• Saving the Reagan Library Sikorsky promotional video includes comments by the director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library describing how aerial firefighting helicopters saved the structure and priceless historical artifacts and documents during the 2019 Easy Fire.

• Firehawk Customer Testimonial: Los Angeles County Fire Department Sikorsky promotional video (2018)

Firehawk Websites • For a webpage devoted to the S-70 Firehawk helicopter, along with videos, images, news releases and marketing brochures, see lockheedmartin.com/firehawk • For an overview of United Rotorcraft, visit United Rotorcraft Home

United Rotorcraft’s Aerial Firefighting System

Versatile, Multi-role Machine Like the Black Hawk helicopter used by 30 militaries worldwide, the two-engine Firehawk helicopter can be employed for multiple uses. Outside of fire season, the Los Angeles County Fire Department performs hoist rescues and provides EMS and medical transport. With its water tank removed and a cargo hook installed, the aircraft can lift heavy objects up to 9,000lbs, including large animals (i.e. horse or cattle) stranded in remote canyons.

The Colorado 2021-22 budget proposal states: ‘While the primary mission of the Fire Type 1 helicopter Hawk is fire suppression, the aircraft may also be used for other State purposes, For aerial firefighting, the Firehawk including damage assessments, wildlife counting, search and rescue, or other services is defined as a Type 1 or ‘heavy’ that the State currently contracts aircraft for through other executive branch helicopter — i.e. able to carry 700 to departments.’ 2,500 gallons of water. According to language in the Colorado 2021-22 proposed budget, ‘the capability of the Type 1 Firehawk exceeds that of Firefighting any contracted resource in 1,000 gallon water tank Colorado.’

Personnel Transport 12-14 Firefighters with Equipment

Medical Evacuation Patient Litter Systems Onboard medical systems

Search and Rescue (SAR) Neat fact about the Firehawk External Rescue Hoist The aircraft’s weight, size and strength enable pilots in California to continue flying and fighting

Cargo Transport wildfires in 50-70 mph Santa Ana

Internal/Cargo Hook winds when lighter helicopters are

grounded.

How the Firehawk Helicopter Fights Wildfires

A Firehawk helicopter can transport 12-14 firefighters and their equipment to the edge of the fire line (no water in tank).

Its cabin now empty of firefighters, the aircraft flies at 160 mph (140 knots) to the nearest water source — a lake, river, portable tank or swimming pool. While hovering just 10 feet above the water, the crew operates the control to extend the snorkel. It takes just 45 seconds to pump 1,000 gallons into the tank. The snorkel is then retracted to reduce drag for the return journey to the fire line.

With a full load of water, the Firehawk helicopter can reach speeds of 140 mph (125 knots) on its return to the fire line. The volume of water carried is almost three times the amount carried by the UH-1H helicopter, a smaller firefighting aircraft that drops water from a bucket suspended by a cable. With its faster outbound and return flight speeds, the Firehawk helicopter can drop 16,000 gallons of water every hour (depending on configuration) if the water source is within six of the wildfire.

The depth of the tank, combined with the angular design of its computer controlled doors, build water head pressure strong enough for dropped water to penetrate brush and foliage with precision and force. The effect is to reduce the flames so that firefighters on the ground can advance. New control modes developed by United Rotorcraft enable the pilots to regulate the quantity and concentration of water dropped from the tank to suit the size of the fire or avoid injury to ground crews.

The S-70 aircraft has sufficient engine power and lift capacity to safely perform aggressive maneuvers, such as 4 g turns with a full load of water. In the photo at right, the aircraft is shown at a steep degree angle of bank so as to forcefully expel water onto a hillside slope. Its power/lift capability also enables the aircraft to carry water or personnel to 10,000-ft altitude.

Back at the fire line, the Firehawk helicopter drops its water, allowing ground crews to gain control over the blaze. Should a firefighter become injured, the aircraft can hoist the patient into the cabin for treatment and transport to a nearby hospital.

Night-vision-capable avionics combined with night vision goggles worn by the pilots, allow Firehawk helicopter crews to continue firefighting after sunset when winds and heat are less intense. Night vision goggles also allow pilots to see through smoke in daylight operations.

Colorado Wildfire Size and Costs

In 2020, Colorado witnessed its worst-ever fire season in recorded history.

That’s because the size of its wildfires is growing exponentially.

• The state’s three largest wildfires all occurred in 2020. See Wildfire News & Information | Fire Prevention and Control (colorado.gov) for acreage consumed by wildfires.

• 1,019 wildfires were reported in Colorado in 2020, says the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center, burning 665,454 acres.

• According to an Oct. 20, 2020 article in the Colorado Sun: “Prior to 2002, Colorado had never had a fire in recorded history exceed 100,000 acres. With the Cameron Peak in 2020, the state recorded its first 200,000-acre fire.” See Five charts that show where 2020 ranks in Colorado wildfire history.

• As of Nov. 24, 2020, the Cameron Peak Fire was still burning, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control. Although 92 percent contained, the blaze had consumed more than 208,000 acres, an area twice the size of the City and County of .

• A summary of wildfire costs to the state of Colorado can be found in these Colorado Sun articles: o Wildfires in Colorado cost $130 million in 2018. Here are the details, down to the $40 daily rate on portable toilets (Nov. 1, 2018) o Scouring soil, sowing seeds and spending millions for wildfire recovery in Glenwood Canyon (Dec. 1, 2020)

• According to the state of Colorado’s proposed budget for 2021-2022 fiscal year, the longer a wildfire burns, the greater its overall impacts, not least the costs to suppress the fire, the loss of life and property, insured losses, recovery and clean-up costs, and long-term economic impacts, such as tourism and pollution.

• Additionally, language in the proposed budget speaks to the need for “rapid initial attack” to limit damage and duration of wildfires.

Elephant Butte and Green Meadow fires were good examples of rapid initial attack that limited damage and duration. The Elephant Butte fire was immediately adjacent to the town of Evergreen and the Green Meadow fire was in a subdivision near Telluride with many homes surrounding. On both occasions a rapid aerial attack was used to quickly stop the forward spread to allow ground forces time to establish containment lines. The Elephant Butte Fire cost the state $850,000 and potentially saved multiple homes in Evergreen valued at $600,000 or more. Similarly, the State share of suppression costs on the Chatridge 2 Fire in Douglas County cost $300,000 and potentially saved 1,489 homes with an actual value of over $883,000 each. If the Chatridge 2 fire had burned every home evacuated, it would have added up to over $1 billion in insured losses. DFPC has received multiple letters from fire chiefs, sheriffs, and other fire managers praising the aggressive initial attack efforts piloted in 2020 and the exponential return on investment of keeping fires small in the wildland urban interface where there are expensive values at risk.

• Additional information about Colorado’s wildfire management can be found at the Colorado Department of Public Safety.

Q&As

Q1: What makes the Firehawk helicopter so good at aerial firefighting? A: The following key attributes contribute to the S-70 Firehawk helicopter’s growing reputation for world-class aerial firefighting. • Military design: The Firehawk is born a Black Hawk helicopter, meaning it was designed and engineered by Sikorsky and the U.S. Army to carry troops and supplies into battle. This military pedigree enables a Firehawk aircraft to withstand the enormous physical stresses imposed on its airframe — for example, when transporting 12-14 firefighters and their gear to the fire line, then repeatedly taking on and releasing 8,000 pounds of water (1,000 gallons) over the course of a day’s firefight. This same pedigree allows the Firehawk to operate in strong winds that keep lighter helicopters grounded. Only a helicopter designed from scratch for military use can operate reliably and safely under such punishing conditions. • Highly effective for initial attack: The Firehawk aircraft has proven its effectiveness to attack wildfires in their initial stages before they can become mega fires. The combination of speed, power and payload (amount of water or firefighters) are unmatched — as are its operational reliability and safety of flight for the no-fail aerial firefighting mission. • Custom-designed water tank system: The water tank system was designed by Sikorsky in the late 1990s to specifications from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and was further refined and reintroduced by United Rotorcraft and tank manufacturer Kawak Technologies (Bend, OR) in 2019 for the third-generation Firehawk aircraft. Among the improvements are: o Easier pilot control over the amount of water dropped; o A cockpit display showing tank fill status and diagnostic feedback; o Stronger water tank rated for aggressive flight characteristics, such as 4 g turns with a full load of water; o A refill pump that siphons 1,000 gallons in 45 seconds (vs. 60 previously); o An internal tank spray wash to prevent cross contamination of invasive species between water sources.

Q2: How many does United Rotorcraft employ in Englewood to support Firehawk helicopter work? A: United Rotorcraft currently employs more than 200 at its Centennial Airport facility.

Q3: How many S-70 Firehawk helicopters are operational today? On order? A: As of December 2020, a total of nine Firehawk helicopters are currently in operation, all in California: • 5 with Los Angeles County Fire Department • 1 with the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue • 3 with the State of California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) An additional nine S-70 Firehawk aircraft currently are on order with CAL FIRE.

Q4: How does a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter become a Firehawk? A: A Firehawk begins life as an S-70 Black Hawk helicopter produced at a Lockheed Martin aircraft manufacturing facility in . The aircraft is then shipped to United Rotorcraft in Englewood, Colorado where it is configured for the aerial firefighting mission.

Q5: Is the S-70 the same aircraft as the U.S. Army’s UH-60? A: Black Hawk helicopters come in two designations. An S-70 is sold by Sikorsky direct to international militaries, as well as local government agencies/municipalities/states, such California and Los Angeles County. Black Hawk aircraft purchased by the U.S. military receive an ‘H-60’ designation — the U.S. Army’s ‘UH-60’ utility helicopter being the most widely known.

Q6: What is a ‘third generation Firehawk’? A: This term refers to a Black Hawk helicopter in its third iteration since the first-generation aircraft delivered to the U.S. Army in 1978. More powerful engines and wide chord rotor blades give today’s third-generation aircraft greater power margins particularly when flying at max. gross weight and at high altitudes. Also, an advanced digital cockpit takes on many of the aircraft’s flight functions, allowing Black Hawk/Firehawk pilots to pre-program and manage the mission while adjusting flight parameters, such as speed, precision hover, heading and altitude, as needed. For safety, a four-axis coupled flight control system (autopilot) enables a pilot to hold an exact hover in high wind rescues or when hoisting a victim from a canyon ledge. The aircraft also monitors its own health to detect wear on the aircraft’s moving components.

Q7: Why is Governor Polis proposing to buy a Firehawk helicopter? A: The 2021-22 budget proposal states that ‘Colorado faces an unprecedented need to take immediate action to protect life, safety and economic prosperity. Strategic, landscape-scale investments are required now to drastically minimize wildfire risk, mitigate flood threats, and protect and restore water quality and watershed health. The challenges we face represent opportunities to put Coloradans back to work, protect the State from rising wildfire suppression costs, and restore and preserve the outdoor economic engines Coloradans depend on.’

Q8: The proposed budget cites a cost of nearly $24m for one Firehawk aircraft. Why so expensive? A: There are three components to acquiring a Firehawk helicopter. The cost of the Sikorsky Black Hawk aircraft is in the neighborhood of $16-18m depending on options. The cost and installation of the water tank system plus its connection to the aircraft avionics by United Rotorcraft will add $3-5m. Finally, there is the need to buy helicopter spare parts and ground support equipment, and put pilots and maintainers through an extensive flight and maintenance training course.

Q9: Which other states have expressed interest in the Firehawk? A: Several other Western states have expressed interest in the capabilities of the Firehawk helicopter.

Q10: Which Colorado agency or department will operate these Firehawk aircraft? A: The Colorado Firefighting Air Corps (CFAC) will have control over Firehawk aircraft. CFAC is part of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control within the state’s Department of Public Safety. For further information, please contact the Governor’s press office.

Q11: Will the Firehawk helicopter replace Colorado’s contracted fleet of Type 2 helicopters? A: The state says in its proposed budget: ‘A Type 1 Fire Hawk helicopter will significantly enhance Colorado’s current contracted helicopter fleet by providing additional capabilities that existing resources cannot provide on a year-round basis.’

Q12: Kyle Clark (News 9 / Nov. 16, 2020) stated that more than 90 percent of the acreage burned in 2020 across Colorado is believed to be on federal land, where the state doesn’t have any firefighting authority. Is that true? A: When a wildfire occurs on federal land, the U.S. Forestry Service typically will call on all viable firefighting assets to respond. In such cases, the cost of state assets, such as a Firehawk, would be reimbursed by the federal government.

Media contacts

• United Rotorcraft, a division of Air Methods: Doug Flanders, (720) 385-9001; [email protected] • Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company: Frans Jurgens, (203) 615-8293; [email protected]

About United Rotorcraft United Rotorcraft, an Air Methods Division, specializes in the design and manufacture of aeromedical and aerospace technology. United Rotorcraft offers a full range of completion, paint, and MRO services and products for Emergency Medical Services, Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, Utility, VIP, and Military operators.

About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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FIREHAWK® is a registered trademark of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. S-70TM is a trademark of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.

Dec. 2020