Firefighting aircraft remain idled due to lack of essential equipment kits in the state inventory
The Portuguese Air Force has 10 aircraft, including 3 heavy aircraft and 7 light helicopters, that could be utilised for rural firefighting. However, these aircraft are not currently being used for this purpose as they lack the necessary firefighting kits needed to adapt them for the role [2].
The KC-390, a versatile aircraft capable of various missions such as cargo transport, troop transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and firefighting, is also part of the Portuguese Air Force's fleet. However, the KC-390's firefighting role is limited by the absence of specialized equipment or kits that would enable it to perform effective water or retardant drops needed for firefighting operations [5].
In light of this, the Air Force has instead focused on surveillance aircraft and other aerial means like drones and helicopters to support firefighting efforts rather than deploying the KC-390 in the firefighting role without proper adaptation [1].
The Brazilian Air Force, on the other hand, has been using the KC-390 for firefighting missions in areas such as the Pantanal and the interior of the state of São Paulo. The modular airborne fire-fighting system, which includes a tank with a capacity of 12,000 liters, is used in these operations [3]. The Brazilian Air Force considers the "kit" to be an effective tool in fighting forest fires.
Despite the KC-390's potential for firefighting, the state did not purchase the required kits to enable this capability, which is a critical limitation [2]. The information about the KC-390's firefighting capabilities was reported by the newspaper Publico.
It's worth noting that the KC-390 aircraft need to refuel at an airport, unlike amphibious aircraft that can refuel in rivers or lakes. Additionally, the KC-390 does not need to drop all water at once, allowing a single load to be used in multiple fires [4].
However, the KC-390 aircraft take approximately 40 minutes to take off again, which limits the pace of discharges. This could potentially be a drawback in situations where rapid response is crucial [6].
In conclusion, the Portuguese Air Force's KC-390 aircraft, purchased from Embraer, are not primarily designed for fighting fires. The absence of the necessary firefighting kits is preventing the Portuguese Air Force from fully utilising these aircraft for rural firefighting, while the Brazilian Air Force is successfully using the KC-390 for firefighting missions with the modular airborne fire-fighting system.
In the Portuguese Air Force, the acquisition of the necessary firefighting kits is crucial for the KC-390 aircraft to be employed effectively in rural firefighting operations, as demonstrated by the Brazilian Air Force's successful use of the modular airborne fire-fighting system.
Overlooking the purchase of these kits potentially hinders the Portuguese Air Force from capitalizing on the KC-390's potential in personal-finance (budgeting) terms, considering the aircraft's versatile abilities in numerous missions including firefighting.
