FDNY Helicopter Project United States Military Academy Fire Department City of New York Combating Terrorism Leadership Program FDNY Helicopter Project

FDNY Helicopter Project

United States Military AcademyFire Department City of New York

Combating Terrorism Leadership Program



The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the need for the Fire Department of the City of New York to acquire a helicopter as a regional resource for homeland security


Project Staff:

Battalion Chief Thomas Danz

Battalion Chief Daniel Martinetion

Captain Jeffrey Race

Captain Scott Holliday

Captain Michael McLaughlin

Mentor: Chief Joseph W. Pfeifer


Fire Based Aviation Programs

Los Angeles County FD, California

Los Angeles City FD, California

Chicago FD, Illinois Miami-Dade Fire Rescue,

Florida


Historical Examples for the Use of Fire Service Aviation

World Trade Center Belle Harbor Port Mobil

High Rise Operations Brush Fires Coastal Storms /

Flooding Ship Emergencies Medical Evacuation


Threat of Terrorism


9/11 Commission

“If there is a fire on the 30th floor in a high-rise building that cannot be extinguished and exits are totally blocked, how do you rescue the people?”

Question from the 9/11 Commission to Nicholas Scoppetta, Fire Commissioner


FDNY Uses for a Helicopter

Fire Suppression Search & Rescue Resource Deployment Command and Control Reconnaissance Medical Evacuation


Fire Suppression

Technology is available and is continuing to develop which will allow airborne master stream devices to be used in high-rise fire suppression


Search & Rescue Insertion of

specialized search teams

Removal of victims and rescuers from hazardous environments


Resource Deployment

Personnel

Equipment


Command & ControlThe ability to gather and use information to make informed decisions effecting the outcome of the incident.

To effectively deploy and utilize resources to accomplish strategic goals and objectives.


Command & Control“One of the most critical things in a major operation like this is to have information. We didn’t have a lot of information coming in. We didn’t receive any reports of what was seen from the [NYPD] helicopters.”Pfeifer, Joseph, videotaped testimony, The 9/11 Commission Report, National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, May 18, 2004

“People watching on TV certainly had more knowledge of what was happening a hundred floors above us than we did in the lobby….[W]ithout critical information coming in…it’s very difficult to make informed, critical decisions[.]”Hayden, Peter, videotaped testimony, The 9/11 Commission Report, National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, May 18, 2004


Reconnaissance

Overall scene picture Access and egress

routes Exposure conditions Real-time video links Pre-plans

Belle Harbor Crash 2001From NYPD Aviation


Medical Evacuation

Specialty Referral Transport

Mass Casualty Evacuation


Selection of Helicopter Types


Decision Criteria Fire Suppression

The ability to apply water both horizontally and vertically.

Search & RescueAllow removal of victims and personnel from inaccessible locations.

Resource DeploymentThe lifting capability of the aircraft and the amount of personnel it can move.

Command and ControlAbility to provide video feed to the IC and allow aerial surveillance by FDNY officers.

Medical EvacuationAbility to move victims from the scene to definitive care and specialty referral centers.


SIKORSKY S-70A FIREHAWK


Criteria AnalysisErickson Air Crane Bell Long Ranger Bell 412 Sikorsky FIREHAWK

Fire Suppression4 0 2 3

Search & Rescue0 2 3 4

Deployment: Equipment 2 1 2 4Deployment: Personnel 0 1 2 4Command & Control

0 4 3 3Medevac

0 1 3 4

TOTAL 6 9 15 22Rate on a scale of 0 to 4 with 0 being the least useful and 4 being the most useful.Highest Number is the preferred aircraft


Regional ResourceSikorsky Firehawk – resource capable of

large scale movement of manpower, equipment, and extinguishing agent.

Manpower – specialists, command, IMT, USAR Equipment – 4.5 ton lift capacity of medical supplies, haz mat or

USAR caches Extinguishing Agent – 1000 gallons of water and 30 gallons of foam

concentrate for application in hazardous or remote locations (suspension bridges, tank farms, hi-rise)


Regional Resource

An FDNY resource capable of implementing its core mission within the City as well as expanded capabilities in the entire Northeast region


Regional Resource


Regional Resource Homeland Security

FEMA/USAR

Mutual Aid


Cost Recovery

Possible for the following operations:Homeland SecurityFEMA/USARMutual Aid AgreementsMedevacHazmatPort of NY/NJ – ships, bargesGateway National Park (brush operations)


Funding

FD Budget DHS Grant Discretionary Grant – various sources Private Funding – Corporate, non-profit, etc.

















Recommendations Investigate Potential Regional Partnerships.

Research Funding Sources Outside the FDNY Budget.

Prepare a Cost Analysis of Establishing a FDNY Aviation Unit.


Thank You for Your Attention

QUESTIONS?


ProcurementRent (+) limited up front expenditures

(- ) very restricted use, capabilities

Lease (+) moderate up front expenditures(+) less risk exposure(- ) inflexible (limited capabilities)(- ) could prove more costly over long term

Purchase (- ) substantial initial investment(- ) most risk exposure(+) custom created to our menu of missions(+) creates stability in program (procedures,

training, R&D)


MaintenanceDirect Operating Cost (DOC) Indirect Operating Cost (IOC)

DOC – the cost incurred from being in the air (fuel, lubricants)

IOC – flexible cost optionsPay as you go – we assume all repair cost as

necessaryTAP – Total Assurance Plan

Pay flat rate based on estimated annual hours. Transfers most risk to supplier Can be more costly over life of helicopter

PAP - Partial Assurance Plan Any variation on coverage


Manufacturer/Model Seating Capacity W/

Crew

Water Capacity

Patient Capacity

Cost Per Flight Hour

Lift Capacity Cruise Speed Range

Erickson Air-Crane3 2650 gal. 0

$4500

lease25000 lbs

104 knots

172 nm

198 miles

Bell Long Ranger5 300 gal. 1 n/a 1995 lbs 110 knots

324 nm

373 miles

Bell 4128 300 gal. 2 $750.34 4500 lbs 122 knots

356 nm

409 miles

Sikorsky S-70A FIREHAWK15 1000 gal. 6 $1285.82 8998 lbs 155 knots

248 nm285 miles

Helicopter Comparisons


Documents

FDNY Helicopter Project United States Military Academy Fire Department City of New York Combating Terrorism Leadership Program FDNY Helicopter Project