Fire photographer Ryan Grothe attended a San Diego County Sheriff’s Department press conference last week as officials showed off their new firefighting helicopter. Sheriff Kelly Martinez introduced the new fire helicopter and a patrol helicopter, a $21 million investment for the two, at the Aerial Support to Law Enforcement Agencies base in El Cajon.
The 2023 Bell 412EPX is equipped with a 375-gallon tank that can drop water or foam. The helicopter can seat 14 people. The crew will include a deputy pilot, a CAL FIRE captain, and a paramedic. There can be seven firefighters seated in the back for fires.
This is the newest helicopter for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. With a cruise speed of 230 km/h (142 mph) and a range of 672 km (417 miles), the Bell 412EPX has the capability for long-range duty at impressive speed.
Cost of the helicopter was $15.7 million, using the department’s budget and funds from Proposition 172 (PDF) — the Local Public Safety Protection and Improvement Act of 1993. Tony Mecham, County Fire and CAL FIRE San Diego Unit Chief, said the acquisition will improve response to both wildfires and remote area rescues.
The new patrol helicopter is the Bell 407GXi, which is dedicated to law enforcement operations 24 hours a day. It includes a flight deck with precision navigation to track and respond to incidents and is equipped with a bucket to help with water drops on a fire.
This begins the phasing out of the current fleet of three Bell 205s which were built in the 1960s. The county plans to order two more 412EPX helicopters in the future.
All deputy pilots will complete ground and flight training as well as safety and familiarization training with the new helicopter before the 412 begins flying next year.
According to the manufacturer, the 412 is equipped with the Bell BasiX Pro™ Integrated Avionic System:
- Garmin GTN-750 NAV/COM/WAAS GPS
- Helicopter Terrain Avoidance Warning System (H-TAWS) capability
- Power Situation Indicator (single indicator for quick pilot monitoring)
- Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (NextGen, Standard ADS-B out, Optional ADS-B in)
- LED cockpit lighting and panels
The 412 is a twin-engine helicopter that enables a pilot to land safely with a backup engine in the event of an engine failure. This is a key safety feature in fighting fires at night, which is planned for future operations. There is a contract in place with the City of San Diego for nighttime firefighting.
July 2022 in San Diego on the Margerum Fire — City of San Diego’s Copter 2, a Bell 412, making water drops. The fire threatened homes on Margerum Avenue near Navajo Road but was held to just 2 acres. Ryan Grothe photo
The Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies (ASTREA) base has provided support to the Sheriff’s Department and partner agencies across the county since 1971. ASTREA averages nearly 6,000 missions annually supporting patrol and fire and rescue calls throughout the region.