3 October 2023 Ignite Ideas recipient rises as global leader in aerial firefighting innovation

Helitak Firefighting Equipment spreads its wings

Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas recipient Helitak Fire Fighting Equipment has emerged as a global leader in aerial firefighting.

Based on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, the company’s tech has been used in fighting major wildfires in North America, Europe and Australia.

Helitak was founded in 2016 by former helicopter firefighting pilot Jason Schellars. Today, Helitak sells a range of both helicopter and fixed-wing fire tanks to international government agencies, military organisations and civilian helicopter operators.

‘I started my career as a marine engineer and this allowed me to follow my dream of becoming a helicopter pilot,’ Mr Schellars said.

‘Working as a young commercial helicopter pilot with an engineering background, I could see first-hand that the systems used for aerial firefighting at the time were inefficient. So this led me to start designing a better aerial water delivery system.’

Helitak received $100,000 in Ignite Ideas funding

The funding in 2019 helped Helitak to commercialise its technology specifically for the Sikorsky Black Hawk Helicopter. The company sees the Black Hawk as becoming the frontline helicopter in combating bushfires.

The Black Hawk has two key features that make it ideal for firefighting – it can reach the low altitudes needed for effective water delivery and it can deliver up to 4500 litres of water per drop.

What makes Helitak water tank technology unique is that it does not require any airframe modification to the Black Hawk underbelly, thanks to its highly innovative retractable water tank and special hover pump.

Also, it can fill the tank with 4500 litres of water or fire retardant in less than 45 seconds using the company’s special hover pump.

Once over a fire, the load can be dropped in as little as five seconds or distributed more slowly over a wider area.

Using Ignite Ideas funding, the company marketed its technology through displays and demonstrations at industry trade expos and targeted marketing campaigns.

This strategy led to its first sales into the US market following certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – making it the only approved fire tank worldwide for the Black Hawk.

‘The Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas funding was pivotal for Helitak,
allowing us to reach new markets.’

The company has gone from strength to strength, establishing key agreements with major US aircraft engineering and maintenance companies Seaview Aviation and Arista Aviation, providing Helitak with market access to their Black Hawk customers.

Global sales for firefighting

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services commissioned a Black Hawk for the 2023-24 Queensland fire season, with Helitak fitting out the helicopter with its firefighting equipment.

Two South Australian Black Hawks have been fitted with Helitak’s firefighting system.

The company also received FAA certification for the Helitak FT4250 Fire Tank, which has been designed for the Airbus Super Puma AS332 and H225.

This led to Helitak securing the contract to design and manufacture specialised tanks for Heli Austria’s firefighting Super Puma fleet. Heli Austria operates 40 helicopters and employs 50 pilots who work worldwide. The company provides commercial operations as well as helicopter emergency services in the alpine regions of Europe.

Helitak also struck a deal to supply its Black Hawk firefighting equipment to Turkey’s forestry department and the Turkish military.

‘We have now grown to 25 employees.
And we hope to continue to grow as demand
increases for our firefighting product range.’

Mr Schellars has seen his dream become a reality, all with a little help from Advance Queensland’s Ignite Ideas program.

‘I see the company continuing to grow and expand our range of products. I see growth in using our technology in fixed-wing applications, too.

‘This means more jobs for the local area. We currently source about 92% of the material required to build our products from local vendors. So, our growth is putting money back into the Queensland economy.’