Emergency Response / Disaster relief
       Emergency   response   is   an   important   role   for   hybrid   air   vehicle   because   often   the   problem   is to   move   staff   and   supplies   the   last   50   or   100   miles.   There   are   many   types   of   emergency response,   but   Canada   is   faced   every   year   with   the   need   to   respond   to   one   particular   kind: forest   fires.   Rather   than   describe   all   forms   of   emergency   response,   forest   fires   are   used   as   a template to describe this market.
   In recent history, fires are becoming more frequent and more severe. This is due to climate change and the impact that is having on the dryness of the forest. When fires do occur in areas that are more populated, they have a greater impact. This issue has been further compounded by the Smokey the Bea phenomenon. This very successful campaign to report fires has lead to a build up of fuel on the forest floor because of the fire suppression policy of extinguishing all fires. However, fires are part of the natural ecosystem and low intensity fires are actually helpful in reducing the risks of fires, especially in proximity of communities and industrial locations.
There are four main activity areas associated with fire management.
      Detection
     Aggressive attack
     Mop-up
     Fire Intelligence and communications
Fire Detection
            Current   practice   is   to   detect   fires   using   fixed   position   lookout   towers,   and   aircraft   patrols, (smaller   aircraft   flying   over   areas   where   wild   land   fires   are   likely   due   to   lightning   and   or   man causes).   Current   practice   requires   tower   infrastructure,   seasonal   staff   and   costly   aircraft.   This practice has severe limitations such as;
     blind areas (valleys etc) not visible from a fixed tower
period of observation: aircraft do not monitor forested areas over a period of time as they see the area and continue on the flight
       The   limitations   in   the   ability   to   detect   fires   using   these   methods   results   in   fewer   fires being    detected.    It    is    estimated    that    only15-25%    of    all    fires    are    detected    using conventional   means.   Wild   land   fires   are   often   detected   by   people   who   report   the   fire using   the   Fire   Reporting   1-800   Phone   numbers   each   agency   typically   establishes.   This approach   is   often   hit   or   miss.   Failure   to   detect   fires   in   a   timely   manner   often   results   in fires   becoming   larger.   Consequently,   they   consume   more   forested   area,   threaten   more property   and   infrastructure   and   as   a   result,   increase   the   risk   to   human   life,   and   increase the cost to extinguish.
Aggressive Attack
       Initial   attack   involves   the   movement   of   personnel,   equipment   and   fire   suppressant/retardant to   a   detected   wild   land   fire   site.   This   must   be   done   as   quickly   after   detection   as   possible   to minimize   the   fire   size.   The   current   practice   involves   determining   what   resources,   in   terms   of personnel   and   equipment,   need   to   be   dispatched   to   the   fire   location.   These   decisions   are   based upon   an   analysis   of   potential   fire   behavior.   Fires   that   will   spread   quickly   due   to   forest   fuel dryness,   terrain,   wind   and   temperatures   require   a   quicker   response   than   those,   which   are burning   in   wet   or   cooler   conditions.   Resources   are   transported   by   road   where   possible,   but more     often     by     helicopters     appropriate     to     the     load     size     being     moved.     Often,     fire suppressant/retardant   is   delivered   to   strategic   locations   on   the   fire   line   by   fixed   wing   aircraft, helicopters and/or combinations of these platforms.
          Having   the   right   resources   in   the   right   location   as   quickly   as   possible   reduces   the   potential   of rapid   fire   spread   thus   enabling   the   crews   to   have   maximum   effect   when   extinguishing   the   fire. Typically   95%   of   wild   land   fires   are   contained   in   the   first   burning   period   using   the   above practices.   Fires   that   are   not   contained   in   the   first   period   may   become   very   costly   to   manage   in terms   of   their   impact   life,   property,   values   and   dollars.   It   is   not   uncommon   to   have   fires   cost several hundreds of thousands of dollars or more to extinguish.
Mop Up
       Mop-up   activities   are   directed   at   fire   cooling   and   extinguishment   by   delivering   large   volumes of   water   to   support   the   ground   crew   actions.   As   part   of   this   activity,   fire   crews   usually   require large   volumes   of   water   to   assist   in   the   complete   extinguishment   of   the   fire.   On   occasion   water is   available   on   site,   from   lakes   and   or   streams   to   perform   this   task   but   frequently   it   is   not. Large   fixed   wing   air   tankers   and   helicopters   are   then   employed   to   support   mop   up   efforts. While   there   may   be   little   choice,   helicopters   and   fixed   wing   air   tankers   have   very   high   costs   per unit   of   load   and   as   a   function   of   load   size   limitation   may   require   many   trips   to   complete   the work. Some of the issues that effect mop-up operations using air drops include:
     Currently the delivery of water is by skimmer aircraft or helicopter and may well cost several dollars per litre delivered.
     Limitations on the availability of air tanker aircraft and or larger helicopters often precludes the use of these tools when the aircraft are committed to other fires and or other industries.
    The result is often an increase in the size and damage done by the wildfire and the increased threat to life and property.
Fire Intelligence and Communications
       Currently   fire   mapping   is   provided   by   fixed   wing   aircraft   carrying   cameras   with   regular   and infra   red   capabilities.   These   images   are   taken   over   the   fire   site   and   transported   back   to   a   base where   they   are   processed   and   transformed   into   maps   for   the   ground   fire   managers.   This process    does    not    afford    fire    managers    overseeing    large    areas    fire    behavior    and    activity intelligence.   Information   is   not   real   time   and   delays   in   delivery   of   good   fire   maps   are   the   norm, it is also very costly.
       High   level   airships   have   the   potential   to   provide   fire   intelligence   on   demand,   real   time mapping and photos on an ongoing basis.
       Fire   line   communications   are   comprised   of   a   variety   of   systems,   fm   radios   which   may   require installation   of   local   repeaters   to   be   effective,   cellular   phones,   and   radio   and   satellite   telephones. All of these systems are expensive to maintain and operate.
Summary of Potential Benefits of Hybrid For Fire Suppression
          Hybrids   air   vehicle   could   fundamentally   change   the   way   large   project   fires   are   fought   and managed.   Canada   spends   over   $1   billion   annually   fighting   an   average   of   7,600   fires.   Fires   burn 2.8   million   hectares   of   forestland,   wildlife   habitat   and   human   communities.   Hybrid   air   vehicle have the potential to reduce the costs of fire servicing and control as they:
    Hybrid air vehicle have the ability to carry large payloads
•  large volumes of suppressant and or retardant
•  large numbers of men and equipment
    Hybrid air vehicle can hover thus permitting:
•  Delivery of fire suppressant from precise locations, and deliver same to precise locations.
•  Deliver heavy equipment and ground support resources to precise locations without the benefit of roads or helipads.
            Hybrid   air   vehicle   can   operate   independent   of   ground   base   infrastructure   and   have long operating endurance.
      Hybrid   air   vehicle   have   relatively   low   capital   and   operating   costs.   The   buoyancy created   by   the   lifting   gas   mean   that   the   aircraft   does   not   have   to   incur   the   fuel   costs   of remaining   airborne   either   by   maintaining   airspeed   in   the   case   of   fixed   wing,   or   rotor speed   in   the   case   of   helicopters.   This   resulting   in   a   significant   saving   in   both   capital and operating costs and makes hybrid air vehicle very efficient to operate.
Skyfreighter Canada Ltd
Emergency Response / Disaster relief
       Emergency   response   is   an   important   role   for   hybrid   air vehicle    because    often    the    problem    is    to    move    staff    and supplies   the   last   50   or   100   miles.   There   are   many   types   of emergency   response,   but   Canada   is   faced   every   year   with   the need   to   respond   to   one   particular   kind:   forest   fires.   Rather than   describe   all   forms   of   emergency   response,   forest   fires are used as a template to describe this market.
There are four main activity areas associated with fire management.
      Detection
     Aggressive attack
     Mop-up
     Fire Intelligence and communications
Fire Detection
            Current   practice   is   to   detect   fires   using   fixed   position lookout   towers,   and   aircraft   patrols,   (smaller   aircraft   flying   over areas   where   wild   land   fires   are   likely   due   to   lightning   and   or man   causes).   Current   practice   requires   tower   infrastructure, seasonal    staff    and    costly    aircraft.    This    practice    has    severe limitations such as;
     blind areas (valleys etc) not visible from a fixed tower
period of observation: aircraft do not monitor forested areas over a period of time as they see the area and continue on the flight
       The   limitations   in   the   ability   to   detect   fires   using   these methods   results   in   fewer   fires   being   detected.   It   is   estimated that   only15-25%   of   all   fires   are   detected   using   conventional means.   Wild   land   fires   are   often   detected   by   people   who   report the   fire   using   the   Fire   Reporting   1-800   Phone   numbers   each agency   typically   establishes.   This   approach   is   often   hit   or   miss. Failure   to   detect   fires   in   a   timely   manner   often   results   in   fires becoming   larger.   Consequently,   they   consume   more   forested area,    threaten    more    property    and    infrastructure    and    as    a result,   increase   the   risk   to   human   life,   and   increase   the   cost   to extinguish.
Aggressive Attack
         Initial    attack    involves    the    movement    of    personnel, equipment   and   fire   suppressant/retardant   to   a   detected   wild land   fire   site.   This   must   be   done   as   quickly   after   detection   as possible   to   minimize   the   fire   size.   The   current   practice   involves determining    what    resources,    in    terms    of    personnel    and equipment,   need   to   be   dispatched   to   the   fire   location.   These decisions   are   based   upon   an   analysis   of   potential   fire   behavior. Fires    that    will    spread    quickly    due    to    forest    fuel    dryness, terrain,   wind   and   temperatures   require   a   quicker   response than   those,   which   are   burning   in   wet   or   cooler   conditions. Resources   are   transported   by   road   where   possible,   but   more often   by   helicopters   appropriate   to   the   load   size   being   moved. Often,    fire    suppressant/retardant    is    delivered    to    strategic locations   on   the   fire   line   by   fixed   wing   aircraft,   helicopters and/or combinations of these platforms.
          Having   the   right   resources   in   the   right   location   as   quickly   as possible    reduces    the    potential    of    rapid    fire    spread    thus enabling     the     crews     to     have     maximum     effect     when extinguishing   the   fire.   Typically   95%   of   wild   land   fires   are contained   in   the   first   burning   period   using   the   above   practices. Fires   that   are   not   contained   in   the   first   period   may   become very   costly   to   manage   in   terms   of   their   impact   life,   property, values   and   dollars.   It   is   not   uncommon   to   have   fires   cost several     hundreds     of     thousands     of     dollars     or     more     to extinguish.
Mop Up
           Mop-up     activities     are     directed     at     fire     cooling     and extinguishment    by    delivering    large    volumes    of    water    to support   the   ground   crew   actions.   As   part   of   this   activity,   fire crews   usually   require   large   volumes   of   water   to   assist   in   the complete   extinguishment   of   the   fire.   On   occasion   water   is available   on   site,   from   lakes   and   or   streams   to   perform   this task   but   frequently   it   is   not.   Large   fixed   wing   air   tankers   and helicopters    are    then    employed    to    support    mop    up    efforts. While   there   may   be   little   choice,   helicopters   and   fixed   wing   air tankers   have   very   high   costs   per   unit   of   load   and   as   a   function of   load   size   limitation   may   require   many   trips   to   complete   the work.   Some   of   the   issues   that   effect   mop-up   operations   using air drops include:
     Currently the delivery of water is by skimmer aircraft or helicopter and may well cost several dollars per litre delivered.
     Limitations on the availability of air tanker aircraft and or larger helicopters often precludes the use of these tools when the aircraft are committed to other fires and or other industries.
    The result is often an increase in the size and damage done by the wildfire and the increased threat to life and property.
Fire Intelligence and Communications
       Currently   fire   mapping   is   provided   by   fixed   wing   aircraft carrying   cameras   with   regular   and   infra   red   capabilities.   These images   are   taken   over   the   fire   site   and   transported   back   to   a base   where   they   are   processed   and   transformed   into   maps   for the   ground   fire   managers.   This   process   does   not   afford   fire managers   overseeing   large   areas   fire   behavior   and   activity intelligence.   Information   is   not   real   time   and   delays   in   delivery of good fire maps are the norm, it is also very costly.
         High    level    airships    have    the    potential    to    provide    fire intelligence   on   demand,   real   time   mapping   and   photos   on   an ongoing basis.
       Fire   line   communications   are   comprised   of   a   variety   of systems,    fm    radios    which    may    require    installation    of    local repeaters    to    be    effective,    cellular    phones,    and    radio    and satellite   telephones.   All   of   these   systems   are   expensive   to maintain and operate.
Summary of Potential Benefits of Hybrid For Fire Suppression
          Hybrids   air   vehicle   could   fundamentally   change   the   way large   project   fires   are   fought   and   managed.   Canada   spends over   $1   billion   annually   fighting   an   average   of   7,600   fires. Fires   burn   2.8   million   hectares   of   forestland,   wildlife   habitat and   human   communities.   Hybrid   air   vehicle   have   the   potential to reduce the costs of fire servicing and control as they:
    Hybrid air vehicle have the ability to carry large payloads
•  large volumes of suppressant and or retardant
•  large numbers of men and equipment
    Hybrid air vehicle can hover thus permitting:
•  Delivery of fire suppressant from precise locations, and deliver same to precise locations.
•  Deliver heavy equipment and ground support resources to precise locations without the benefit of roads or helipads.
            Hybrid   air   vehicle   can   operate   independent   of   ground   base infrastructure and have long operating endurance.
      Hybrid   air   vehicle   have   relatively   low   capital   and   operating costs.   The   buoyancy   created   by   the   lifting   gas   mean   that   the aircraft   does   not   have   to   incur   the   fuel   costs   of   remaining airborne   either   by   maintaining   airspeed   in   the   case   of   fixed wing,   or   rotor   speed   in   the   case   of   helicopters.   This   resulting in   a   significant   saving   in   both   capital   and   operating   costs   and makes hybrid air vehicle very efficient to operate.
Skyfreighter Canada Ltd
       In   recent   history,   fires   are   becoming   more   frequent   and more   severe.   This   is   due   to   climate   change   and   the   impact   that is   having   on   the   dryness   of   the   forest.   When   fires   do   occur   in areas   that   are   more   populated,   they   have   a   greater   impact. This   issue   has   been   further   compounded   by   the   Smokey   the Bear   phenomenon.   This   very   successful   campaign   to   report fires   has   lead   to   a   build   up   of   fuel   on   the   forest   floor   because of    the    fire    suppression    policy    of    extinguishing    all    fires. However,    fires    are    part    of    the    natural    ecosystem    and    low intensity   fires   are   actually   helpful   in   reducing   the   risks   of   fires, especially in proximity of communities and industrial locations.