Australian company Helitak has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to include seven additional Sikorsky Black Hawk Type Certificates on the Helitak FT4500 Black Hawk STC that was awarded in May 2021 bringing the total to 10 UH-60 or EH-60 models now approved for operation.

With the receipt of the AML Amendment, operators of Black Hawk helicopters issued under these eight Type Certificates are approved to install and operate the Helitak FT4500 Fire Suppression Tank. Further Type Certificates will be added in the coming months.

The Type Certificates approved in the Amended Supplemental Type Certificate are:

·         High Performance Helicopters       UH-60A                             R00054SE (approved with initial STC)

·         Pickering Aviation Inc.                      UH-60A/EH-60A               R00003AC

·         Delta Enterprise                                UH-60A/EH-60A               R00019AT

·         Carson Helicopters Inc.                    UH-60A                             R00020AT

·         PJ Helicopters Inc.                             UH-60A                             R00020LA

·         Billings Flying Services                     UH-60A                             R00021LA

·         Skydance Blackhawk Operations   UH-60A                             R00022LA

·         Ace Aeronautics                                UH-60A                             R00005RC

Offering the only FAA certified underbelly fire suppression tank for the Black Hawk helicopter in the World, the proven performance of the Helitak FT4500 Fire Suppression Tank has further been confirmed with the recent contract announcement by the Australian National Aerial Fire Centre (NAFC) where all five Black Hawk aircraft receiving contracts will operate with the Helitak tank installed.

Helitak previously secured their intellectual property with Patent and Design Registration applications submitted in Australia, the USA and other selected countries and territories around the world to protect their next-generation tank design and tank mounting systems used in connection with the FT4500 Black Hawk fire suppression tank.

Helitak, CEO and Founder Jason Schellaars said, “This certification is so important as it increases the number of helicopters that are approved to operate the FT4500 Fire Suppression Tank, and as we head into Summer it means that these operators who are so instrumental in fighting bush fires, will be able to use our tank as part of their firefighting strategies.

“Importantly, the FT4500 is light, easy to install, allows for large Type 1 water volume capacity and offers easy plug and play operations allowing for a perfect and controllable drop pattern every time and when fighting bush fires accuracy and being able to carry as much water as the aircraft will allow can make all the difference,” Mr Schellaars said.