Firefighting Helicopter Refueling

Refueling a helicopter is more complicated than fueling a car, but only slightly so. The problem isn't in getting the fuel into the helo as much as it is in finding a fuel source that is conveniently near the fire. For this reason, many firefighting helicopter companies bring their own refueling vehicles to the site. These vehicles are portable tankers with fuel for the helicopters because helicopters can not take the regular fuel that cars use.

Helicopter fuel

Helicopters require either a high end gasoline or a special kerosene called Jet-A in their engines in order to run. Turbine engines, which many of the newer helicopters are, require the special kerosene, and reciprocating engines need the high grade gasoline. These fuels can be found mainly at airports, although there are a few other places that offer them as well.

Operation Times

Most helicopters are only designed to fly for a few hours without refueling. This is because large fuel tanks would take up too much room and the weight of the gasoline would not be countered by the benefit of having more time. Most helicopter flights are only a couple hundred miles or less, not requiring a refueling, however, in the event of a fire, some helicopters may be required to fly for days on end. This is why fuel needs to be handy. If it is not, the helicopter will be out of commission.

What Affects Fuel Usage

Fuel Usage is affected by a number of variables, including how much fuel is in the tank. Like a car, a helicopter gets better fuel mileage when there is less fuel in the tank. This is because there is less weight to carry around. It also gets better gas mileage when there is no cargo and no passengers. Altitude also makes a big difference, both in the mileage and in the towing and lifting capacity. The density of the air is thickest at sea level, which is where the blades can force the most air downward, pushing the helicopter upward. At higher altitude, it is not as easy to force air down because it is more thinly dispersed. Think of it like swimming. If you try to swim in the air, you will not be able to move very well. In the water, however, you can swim quite well. However, if it is too dense, then the helicopter will not be at optimal level, which could be compared to you trying to swim through dirt.