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March 2008
Bell 212HP Helicopter
Ted
Stallings, President of Aero Tech, recently increased his
helicopter fleet with the purchase of two new Bell 212HP
helicopters. Aero Tech now has a fleet of five helicopters.
The new Bell 212HP helicopter can assist in firefighting,
chartering, heavy lifting, rescue operations, heli-skiing,
NASCAR events, construction, straw mulching, seeding and
fertilizing. This 1,800-shaft horsepower twin-engine
helicopter is a true workhorse, capable of transporting up
to 13 passengers with a total payload weight of over 11,200
pounds.
Fire Fighting Contract Awarded to Aero Tech
Aero Tech was recently awarded a
four-year contract with the U.S. Department of the Interior
to provide fire-fighting services in Fairbanks, Alaska. We
will use our recently acquired Bell 212HP helicopters to
support the contract, which begins May 20, 2008. Wayne
Gilbert, a seasoned helicopter pilot familiar with the
Alaska territory, will be the primary helicopter pilot for
this project.
  Crew
Training and Advancements
Four Aero Tech pilots recently upgraded
their flight qualifications with advanced training and
certifications. Cameron Stallings, 21, passed his
multi-engine instrument commercial test. Kelly Henry, Tracy
Wooten and Robert Phillips received their Level I AMD cards.
Our pilots are FAA-certified, instrument rated, AMD-carded,
and hold commercial pesticide applicators’ licenses and
numerous certifications for agricultural operations and
chemical applications.
The Complete Aero Tech Fleet Passes Inspection
In March, the Aviation Management
Directorate (AMD) visited and inspected the majority of Aero
Tech’s fleet and equipment, including six of our AT802’s,
our MD520 helicopter, and the entire fleet of our service
trucks. All vehicles passed inspection and were carded by
the AMD. The AMD inspects the Aero Tech fleet each year to
ensure the planes and vehicles meet AMD standards, so they
can be used for government contracts.
Aero Tech Provides
Aerial Erosion Control
The US Forest Service awarded Aero Tech another contract for
aerial erosion control of the Santiago Fire Project near
Corona, California. Aero Tech teamed with Erickson Air Crane
to set up a service agreement with the Great Western States
Reclamation. Aero Tech was the prime contractor on this
project. The Burned Area Emergency Relief (BAER) project
commenced on December 17, 2007 and was completed on January
21, 2008. Aero Tech used all six of its single-engine air
tanker (SEATs) planes, which recorded over 1,000 hours of
flying time. Aero Tech delivered over 4.5 million gallons of
hydromulch to 1,241 acres at the burn site. The hydromulch
was delivered at a rate of over 3,500 gallons per acre.
After the hydromulch was applied to the burn site, washing
rains fell over the area and the hydromulch held to the
ground. The US Forest Service considered the project a great
success.
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