NDMA Invites Bids to Hire Water Bomber to Control Fires

[Abbas Ali]

Representative image

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) - Islamabad invites bids from national/international firms for hiring aerial water bomber with minimum 10,000 liters capacity to control fires. Firms must be registered with relevant departments in their respective countries.

Emergency tender notice in June 1 newspaper with June 3 as bids opening day:



Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Recent forest fires in Pakistan have destroyed/damaged trees and wildlife.


A Pakistani military helicopter using Bambi Bucket to release water on fire in Islamabad's Margalla Hills National Park in the last week of May 2024.


6 Aviation Squadron AgustaWestland AW139 equipped with Bambi Bucket taking part in operation to control Margalla Hills fire on May 31, 2024.


Wildfire eruption in Margalla Hills National Park in Islamabad due to a severe heatwave on May 31, 2024.


Pakistan Army Mil Mi-17-1V (serial 58634) equipped with Bambi Bucket taking part in operation to control forest fire in Chakdara in Lower Dir in the last week of May 2024.


Pakistan Army Mil Mi-17 equipped with Bambi Bucket taking part in operation to control forest fire in Chakdara in Lower Dir in the last week of May 2024.

Abbas

[raihans]

is it not better to buy one amphibian aircraft rather than hiring, the same can be operated by PAF or PN?

[Abbas Ali]

Maybe they intend to hire water bomber on "as and when required" basis especially during summers hot weather when these fires often erupt in forests/hills.

Maintaining purchased water bomber(s) will require significant budget amount per year.

By the way, there's also option of portable/removeable Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) unit that fits inside a C-130 aircraft without requiring aircraft structural modification. This allows MAFFS unit to be loaded C-130 on short notice for a fire fighting mission. It takes about two hours to load a MAFFS unit onto the C-130.

A MAFFS unit can discharge its load - 3,000 gallons (11,356 liters) weighing 28,000 pounds - in less than five seconds.

Details here: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets ... ng-system/



Maybe a number of such portable/removable units can be purchased for C-130 transport aircraft that are already part of PAF inventory.

Abbas

[TAILWIND]

Aerial fire fighting is a very specialized job, requiring dedicated equipment and training. Even if we get the equipment, training and operationalizing the outfit will take time.
Plus the frequency of fires may not justify such an investment. Even countries like Australia and Spain hire these services during their summer fire seasons.

[Abbas Ali]

Bids opening day today (June 3) because it's an "Emergency Tender Notice".

There are reports of forest fires in different parts of Pakistan.

Abbas