Salt Water Bucketing
Thread Starter
Salt Water Bucketing
I am intrested to hear opinion on bucket ops using salt water as the source. I came across this from 214B on another thread:
Companies I have worked for have opposite opinions. Some say NO WAY to salt water, others dont care, and require it if the fire agency asks for it.
Due to what I was told about the highly corrosive effects of salt water for airframes, blades, and engines, I was taught to avoid salt water on anything less than a 100 footer, and yet I regularly see belly hookers using salt water in mediums.
I was even led to believe that Bell mediums are made from a magnesium alloy which is particularly suscepitable to salt water corrosion, and I am wondering how operators of 204/205/212/412/214 feel about belly hooking into salt? I worked for a 212 operator who has a strict policy of no salt water on a belly hook unless it is life and death (as opposed to property protection). And then I have worked for a 412 operator and a 205 operator to whom it didn't matter at all.
I also believed that the wear of salt water on your blades and engines is can be highly erosive and in the longer term, corrosive . Some of the operators would ensure that the engines have a compressor rinse straight after salt water ops, and that the blades are thoroughly washed and corrosive inhibited, yet I notice belly hookers coming back at the end of a day of salt water ops and not worrying about a rinse - and I have seen this with high rotor wash machines such as B412s, BK117s and B407s. Doesn't seem to worry them.
So what are your thoughts or facts?
Is it acceptable to belly hook into Salt water?
If so, when, how, why, and with what precautions do you think are necessary (if any)?
We are thinking of using a 15 meter (approx. 45 ft) longline for the Bambi bucket instead of using the belly hook. The reason is that we often use seawater and we want to reduce the seaspray.
Due to what I was told about the highly corrosive effects of salt water for airframes, blades, and engines, I was taught to avoid salt water on anything less than a 100 footer, and yet I regularly see belly hookers using salt water in mediums.
I was even led to believe that Bell mediums are made from a magnesium alloy which is particularly suscepitable to salt water corrosion, and I am wondering how operators of 204/205/212/412/214 feel about belly hooking into salt? I worked for a 212 operator who has a strict policy of no salt water on a belly hook unless it is life and death (as opposed to property protection). And then I have worked for a 412 operator and a 205 operator to whom it didn't matter at all.
I also believed that the wear of salt water on your blades and engines is can be highly erosive and in the longer term, corrosive . Some of the operators would ensure that the engines have a compressor rinse straight after salt water ops, and that the blades are thoroughly washed and corrosive inhibited, yet I notice belly hookers coming back at the end of a day of salt water ops and not worrying about a rinse - and I have seen this with high rotor wash machines such as B412s, BK117s and B407s. Doesn't seem to worry them.
So what are your thoughts or facts?
Is it acceptable to belly hook into Salt water?
If so, when, how, why, and with what precautions do you think are necessary (if any)?
Salt Water
There's no doupt about the damaging effects of the salt spray. Sometimes, however, there is just no other water source.
Whether you are operatinig with a 15 feet or 100 feet bucket common sense demands a compressor rinse, blade rinse and in fact, at least, a hose down of the entire aircraft.
This will also get rid of all that carbon build up from the smoke.
I've operated a Mi17 with a 15 feet bucket out of the sea and while it was not the best enviroment, I'm certain it wasn't half as bad as when operating in the dessert in Northern Africa.
Lionco
Whether you are operatinig with a 15 feet or 100 feet bucket common sense demands a compressor rinse, blade rinse and in fact, at least, a hose down of the entire aircraft.
This will also get rid of all that carbon build up from the smoke.
I've operated a Mi17 with a 15 feet bucket out of the sea and while it was not the best enviroment, I'm certain it wasn't half as bad as when operating in the dessert in Northern Africa.
Lionco
