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DART Adds Next-Generation Fire Suppression Products

2009/11/03

DART Helicopter Services (DHS) today announced a new distribution agreement with Absolute Fire Solutions (AFS) of Calgary, Canada. The partnership enables DHS to bring innovative new technology to aerial fire fighting and provides AFS a strong distribution and marketing channel within the civil rotorcraft industry.

"DART is pleased to be bringing more mission-enhancing equipment to the civil helicopter market," said DHS President and CEO Jeff Shapiro. "AFS has important solutions for the firefighting community."

"We've developed a leading edge product that adds new capabilities and efficiencies to aerial firefighting operations, and we felt it was time to match that product with an equally innovative and aggressive marketing team," said Steve Matthews, president of AFS. "We feel we can now focus on developing additional capacities and capabilities for our operator clients, and continue to move forward knowing we are well-represented in the market place."

DHS will add the entire line of AFS FAST Bucket systems and accessories to its product line, including FAST Foam, FAST Fill'IN, Fast Snorkel, the FAST Cockpit Controller and the FASTtrack data logging system.

AFS products offer new technologies to aerial fire fighting not available elsewhere, and the systems are a good fit with the DHS product line. The AFS FAST Bucket aerial fire fighting system is the world's first fire-fighting bucket integrating cockpit volume control as a standard feature in every size.

The FAST Bucket has been developed by helicopter operators for helicopter operators, with a standard two-wire plug and play system offers multiple drops and a variable capacity. The variable capacity allows the operator to carry increasing loads, as fuel is consumed, eliminating cinching and operating at half capacity. The FAST design is also collapsible, portable, lightweight, and allows for quick field repair.


The optional FAST Cockpit controller offers advanced control and management of the FAST Bucket, allowing a pilot to pre-select desired load volumes, drop volumes, number of split drops and drop coverage prior to filling.

The new FASTtrack data tracking technology enables flight crews, helicopter managers, and foresters to accurately record aerial fire suppression effectiveness of buckets and tanked rotary or fixed wing aircraft. FASTtrack has the capability to measure, record and transmit in near real time, the quantity of water, retardant, or foam loaded and delivered to a particular location during fire fighting operations. Once the data has been recorded, FASTtrack has the ability to transmit information over SATCOM and AFF systems for near real-time data viewing.

DHS has built a thriving business around a simple idea: developing and marketing innovative helicopter accessories like FAST Bucket. By representing innovative companies like AFS, DHS has expanded its reach and the DART name has become synonymous with quality helicopter accessories.

 

About Absolute Fire Solutions: Absolute Fire Solutions (AFS) of Calgary, Canada, manufactures the FAST bucket, the world's first fire-fighting bucket integrating cockpit volume control in every size. In its third year of operation, AFS supports operators in 16 countries operating the full range of FAST buckets and accessories, including FASTFill, FASTFoam and now FASTtrack. The introduction of FASTtrack continues AFS's aggressive innovation in aerial fire suppression equipment. For more information about Absolute Fire Solutions, visit www.absolutefire.ca




DART Helicopter Services LLC., 4650 North Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92056(www.darthelicopterservices.com)), is a privately held Sales, Marketing and Manufacturing Company whose primary focus is developing innovative STC’d products and creating sales networks for aerospace manufacturers who are looking to benefit from DART’s global marketing network and sales channel. DART is the logical choice for rotary wing operators who are seeking a supplier with a comprehensive product line and superior customer support. DART’S subsidiary and affiliated companies own over 600 STC’s and manufacture over 1,200 products. With its highly trained and knowledgeable North American and International sales team, DART Helicopter Services distributes more than 3,500 aftermarket products to over 120 countries worldwide. For further information, please call our Customer Support Center at 1 (800) 556 4166 or 1 (613) 632 3336 or by e-mail at sales@darths.com