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Knight Division TacticalWhat is the difference between a Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 helicopter?
Firefighting Helicopters (Type 1–3)
Yes.
KDT provides firefighting helicopter support for wildfire through its Aviation Wing, typed to NWCG Type 1, 2 and 3 by payload, seats and water or retardant capacity, for drops, crew and cargo moves and external loads.
Typical configuration
- Type 1
- 5,000 lb payload, 15+ seats, 700 gal, 12,501+ lb gross weight (e.g., CH-54, CH-47)
- Type 2
- 2,500 lb payload, 9–14 seats, 300 gal, 6,000–12,500 lb (e.g., Bell 204, 205 A1++, 212 HP)
- Type 3
- 1,200 lb payload, 4–8 seats, 100 gal, 6,000 lb and under (e.g., Bell 407, A-Star B3)
- Helitanker
- Fixed tank, 1,100+ gal
- Payload basis
- Allowable payload at 59° F at sea level
- Categories
- Standard (passengers and cargo, module assigned) or restricted (lift only)
- Contracts
- Exclusive-use or call-when-needed
Helicopters drop water and retardant with buckets or fixed tanks and, in the standard category, carry crews and cargo. NWCG types them by allowable payload, passenger seats and how much water or retardant they carry: Type 1 heavy, Type 2 medium and Type 3 light. Helitankers carry a fixed tank of 1,100+ gallons.
KDT supplies helicopters through its Aviation Wing in both categories: standard (passengers and cargo, with an assigned module) and restricted (lift only). Exclusive-use helicopters arrive with their module; call-when-needed (CWN) helicopters work with a helicopter manager or module from the requesting unit. Aircraft and pilots are agency approved, and cooperator aircraft fly federally protected lands with an FS/DOI approval letter.
Tell us the incident, the jurisdiction and the contract vehicle, and we'll match the aircraft and the approvals to it.
Available as
- Type 1 heavy helicopters and helitankers
- Type 2 medium helicopters
- Type 3 light helicopters
- Standard or restricted category
- Short-haul capable Type 2 or Type 3, where ordered
What's included
- Agency-approved aircraft and pilots, as the contract requires
- Helicopter manager or module as the contract type requires
Where it's used
- Bucket and fixed-tank water and retardant drops
- Crew and cargo transport to the line (standard category)
- External load (lift only) work
- Initial attack and extended attack support
Questions, answered.
What is the difference between a Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 helicopter?
NWCG types helicopters by allowable payload, seats and water or retardant capacity. Type 1 carries about 5,000 lb and 700 gal with 15+ seats; Type 2 about 2,500 lb and 300 gal with 9–14 seats; Type 3 about 1,200 lb and 100 gal with 4–8 seats.
What is a CWN helicopter?
A call-when-needed helicopter is hired when ordered, and the requesting unit provides a helicopter manager or module. An exclusive-use helicopter arrives with its module.
How are helicopters ordered on a federal wildfire?
Send KDT the incident, the jurisdiction and the contract vehicle, and we match the aircraft to the payload category you need.
Does KDT provide firefighting helicopters?
Yes. KDT supplies Type 1, 2 and 3 helicopters and helitankers through its Aviation Wing. Send the incident, the jurisdiction and the contract vehicle and we'll match the aircraft and the approvals to it.
Need it on your incident? Say the word.
Add it to your request with anything else you need, then send it all at once. We'll come back with what we can put where, and when.