Alexander Burwitx Schwezoff
Nitrofirex, Murcia
Spain
Title: DRONES and night time aerial firefighting. The NITROFIREX project
Biography
Biography: Alexander Burwitx Schwezoff
Abstract
Nitrofirex is born with the idea of solving the technical barrier between forest fires and night aerial extinguishing applying currently available technologies. Nitrofirex stands for an innovative and globally unique solution that enables active aerial firefighting at nighttime by combining already existing RPAS technology. Here Nitrofirex introduces a completely new RPAS concept consisting in Autonomous Gliders Containers (AGCs) that are able to carry large amounts of extinguishing agent inside their tanks. Once being launched from the rear ramp of any heavy transport aircraft the formation of AGCs autonomously navigate to the fire and drop their extinguishing payload in a coordinated and sequenced manner. Immediately after the high precision release the AGCs climb to their safety altitude, return and land autonomously at the base of operation so as to be prepared for the next run. The application of sophisticated, already operative and mature technology leads to reduce crew risks during operations and significantly improve the operational efficacy and economical efficiency. Paradoxically in the sector of aerial firefighting no modern aeronautic technologies have been implemented up to now, if we compare it to all other sectors of aviation where the innovations have been really impressive. The amount of countries hit by forest fires is numerous. The heavy financial and human losses generate social unease and political concern. The impact on the environment incurs in a direct manner in harm to biodiversity and indirectly with the release of big amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.