Erickson firefighting aircrane returns to Chile

Erickson Air Crane

Global air services operator Erickson will be re-introducing its firefighting rotorcraft, the S-64 aircrane, to Chile’s Bío Bío region.

The aircrane will be delivered to Latin American operator Ecocopter to provide various services for wood and forestry company ARAUCO. The aircrane will be serving population and industrial centres across the region.

The aircrane, nicknamed “Annie”, will be equipped with a 10,000 litre tank and the ability to siphon water from lakes, rivers and other water sources via a sea snorkel in emergencies.

Armando Weinberger, commercial manager of Ecocopter, said: “Having the presence of ‘Annie’ in Chile, at the beginning of the fire season, showcases how the forestry industry is taking anticipated measures to prevent it from repeating the natural events that occurred during the previous season.”