ASSESSMENT OF AVIATION CAPABILITIES OF EMERCOM OF RUSSIA TO ENSURE THE EXTINGUISHING EFFECTIVENESS OF NATURAL FIRES IN UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR AIRFIELD MANEUVER

The article considers the issues of assessing the aviation capability of EMERCOM of Russia on supporting high delivery capacity of extinguishing agent (water) to the site of natural fire in unfavorable conditions for airfield maneuver. The relevance of the article is due to the following factors. On the one hand, the use of aircraft-tankers with large volume of discharged fluid is currently the most effective method for fighting natural fires. On the other hand, there is weak airfield network providing refueling aircraft with water in areas of the country that are most problematic in relation to fire. The article presents calculations showing that, in general, there are opportunities to increase the productivity of water delivery to the fire site with the use of unpaved airfields. It is concluded that these opportunities should be implemented taking into account the economic and technical advisability. This advisability should be based on the identified performance ratios, on the readiness of airfield services to refuel aircraft with water and fuel at maneuver airfields, as well as on the capabilities for using unpaved airfields. There are submitted additional procedures for assessing the possibilities of using unpaved airfields in the process of aerial firefighting of natural fires. Such procedures are not presented in the methodologies that are placed in instructions and flight operation manuals for the aircraft – “water tankers”.