The French interior ministry has hired a Eurocopter EC 725 helicopter with water-carrying capability ahead of the firefighting season on the Island of Corsica off the southeast coast of France.
The firefighting fleet operated by the Securite Civile also consists of 12 Bombardier CL415 amphibians and two converted Dash 8 water bombers. Trials will be conducted in partnership with the interior ministry's civil defence and security directorate and Eurocopter.
The helicopter, which has been in service with the French Air Force for a year, will be stationed in Corsica during July and August on the Securite Civile base in Bastia. Eurocopter will attach to the helicopter a water jettison kit with a capacity of 4t.
During the first phase of the trials, the Eurocopter flight crew will open up the flight envelope, testing the helicopter's flight behaviour in its water-bomber configuration.
The second phase, set to begin on 14 July, will evaluate the helicopter from an operational standpoint, says the airframer. In its water-bomber configuration, the EC 725 can also transport up carry up to 20 firefighters in transport configuration.
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Source: FlightGlobal.com
