A Light Aircraft Foam Application System (LAFAS) for Fire Suppression

This project represents the potential for a major advancement in helicopter fire fighting capability for forests and grasslands. Although early work with helicopters attempted to maximize the quantity of water delivered for initial fire attack, the Light Aircraft Foam Application System (LAFAS) focuses on the precise delivery of quality foam-water mixtures, while retaining previous delivery quantities and rates. The importance of foam was recently high lighted when it was revealed that water drops from aircraft have a temporary cooling effect on the fire but evaporation takes place rapidly and the fire resurges. Foam, of appropriate thickness and quality, not only provides a cooling effect, but also blankets the fuel source, depriving the fire of oxygen. LAFAS is a joint venture between Davis Technologies International, a quality engineering development organization, and CW Aerotech Services, with extensive experience in the development of high technology aeronautical projects. The Phase I efforts of this project are centered on studying the design feasibility of integrating a new technology spherical pump and an advanced capability spray nozzling system into a candidate light helicopter.