High marks for new STAR Flight fleet in year-end assessment

The Augusta Westland 169's cleared a series of training flights in July and by August the aircraft made their first rescue and fire repression water drops.

AUSTIN, Texas - STAR Flight's new fleet of three helicopters had a busy 2019.

The Augusta Westland 169's cleared a series of training flights in July and by August the aircraft made their first rescue and fire repression water drops. On Thursday, under the gray sky of a new year, aviation operations director Chuck Spangler offered a year-end assessment.

"We are working through various issues with a brand new aircraft, and a lot of technology but the workhorse aspect of the aircraft is working out really well,” said Spangler.

On Monday night, a fire in Bastrop County provided STAR Flight one last big test for 2019. A total of 21 water drops were made, each one helping fire crews contain and smother the flames.

"STAR Flight was a big help, the bulldozers and the helicopter really helped us,” said Bastrop Co. ESD 2 Fire Chief Josh Gill.

In 2019, the new STAR Flight helicopters were used to fight a total of 5 grassfires. With the risk increasing in this new year, the aircraft remain prepared for more missions.

The combined fleet of old and new aircraft flew 562 missions in 2019. That number is expected to increase in 2020 because the distance STAR Flight can now fly has increased. The new helicopters are larger than the ones they replaced, and the success so far comes down to one word: capacity.

When an AW169 fought the Bastrop fire Monday, the crew used a nearby lake to get water. The aircraft can haul out more than 200 gallons of water on a single run. Pilots say despite turbulence caused by the intense heat from the fires, the aircraft has so far provided a stable ride.

"The biggest thing is the speed and power, so we can carry a lot more water and we can do it much more safely just because of the amount of power, and the safety margin being in a single-engine capability of the aircraft, but the other thing is just the amount of water we can carry and the speed which we can do it, so we can put more water on a fire faster,” said Spangler.

One modification is planned for 2020 involving the onboard cameras. An expansion of the views is wanted in order to help with training and also with after-flight assessments.