Recoil obtains Brazilian, Moroccan approvals for AFSS on Super Puma Recoil Aerospace Inc. (Recoil), a designer of advanced aerial fire suppression systems (AFSS), recently received approval by Brazil’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (ANAC) and Morocco’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC) for the Recoil Tsunami AFSS tank system. U.S.-based Recoil’s supplemental type certificate (STC) SR02584AK for the Airbus H225 Super Puma helicopter represents the only tank approved for operations with that aircraft, the company said. With the approval, Brazilian and other South American firefighting programs can add this key technology upgrade for the current wildfire season as well as entities in Morocco. Tsunami AFSS units are available for immediate acquisition. In 2024, Brazil faced a more than 900 percent increase in wildfires. The Tsunami AFSS can have an immediate impact on controlling new wildfire outbreaks. “This approval is vital for assisting Brazil, Chile and other countries’ fire suppression efforts at the height of fire season,” said Recoil president and pilot Joseph Rice. “Our rapid installation combined with high volume, fixed tank water delivery leads to maximum fire suppression effectiveness.” Key features of the tank system include underside fuselage mounting, retractable tank design, fastest airspeed available and rapid hover-filling. A performance upgrade in capabilities from legacy external water buckets, firefighting crews are able to fly over urban population centers without the hazard of underslung, jettisonable loads. Increased airspeeds mean suppression efforts become more efficient with rapid turnarounds and rapid response to incidents. Kentucky-based Recoil adds this STC to a wide-ranging list of existing international approvals. The Recoil STC is already in place in the United States and Canada as well as the Republic of Korea, Australia and other regions. Additionally, the company anticipates pending U.S. FAA approval of its Tsunami AFSS STC for the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter series, available for the 2025 fire season in North America. An internal UH-60 AFSS design is also being certified. Recoil’s low-profile AFSS mounts directly to the fuselage, eliminating external long-line bucket operations, requiring no modifications to the helicopter landing gear. In addition, Recoil provides full support including its “Recoil Aerial Firefighting Academy” training program from its Bowling Green, Kentucky headquarters. Importantly, Recoil is the only US-based company producing these types of modern, fuselage-mounted, fully retractable AFSS tanks, in partnership with its Kentucky-based affiliate Aerospace Composites Solutions (ACS) which operates an AS9100 Certified Manufacturing facility. Tsunami Aerial Firefighting Systems Key Features: U.S.-manufactured and supported Comprehensive Tsunami AFSS Training Program/Recoil Training Academy Fastest Airspeed Available – 130 Knot VNE NVG IR Lights Pulse Lights for safety in low-visibility conditions Hailing Siren 132 liter (35 gallon) Integrated Foam Tank Aerospace Carbon Fiber Construction No Airframe Modifications Install/Removal in Minutes Elimination of Longline/Jettisonable Load Hazards Team Recoil will attend VAI’s Verticon Conference in Dallas this March and looks forward to discussing features of its Tsunami AFSS for the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter series with attendees. Recoil is a proud U.S.-based company, designing and supporting all of its industry-leading, innovative product line in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Visit Recoil Aerospace at Booth 6208 during the upcoming Verticon in Dallas, Texas, March 11-13, 2025.
