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  • Australian Flying

    Kestrel adds Firehawk to Fleet

    Jun 17, 2021 6 minutes

    Mangalore-based Kestrel Aviation has added a 1979 model UH-60 Blackhawk converted to Firehawk status to their air attack fleet. The aircraft, N125FH– originally operated by the US Army as 79-23307–arrived by sea from the USA earlier this year. With the introduction of N125FH (Firehawk 1), the company will employ a second helicopter, (Firehawk 2) later in the year for deployment within Australia. Kestrel has also invested in an Airbus Super Puma which recently arrived by road at Mangalore.

    Currently in Australia, civilian operated UH-60 Blackhawks are USA FAA-registered and operated in the Restricted or Experimental category. This prevents them from carrying any passengers, restricting them to essential crew only. Negotiations between the industry and the regulator are ongoing with a view to easing these restrictions. For the 2019-20 fire season Kestrel imported two Firehawks, N2FH and N9FH, (both owned by Firehawk) to Australia.

    Fire-fighting Blackhawks are typically fitted with a longline and firebombing bucket, but Kestrel has also added an internal tank

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