Northwest Aerospace News August | September 2020 | Page 13

We are group that knows that safety and quality are our top priorities, and we are also in the field. We are making it happen for our customers or alongside them.” Another statement reads, “Our crews can be found most everywhere and anywhere: emerging economies, rocky slopes, tangled jungles, frozen outposts and over relentless seas.” To which, Schuldt said, “Our air operations activities take us all over the world; we are in Africa; we do firefighting in North and South America, Europe and Australia … and support the DOD on naval ships. It all ties together to support our customers and make us better at what we do.” Additionally, in recent years, the company has crafted research and development capabilities with significant depth said Jeffrey Baxter, senior director of research and development. Baxter shared that there are four main programs in R&D at Erickson. He feels that the leadership team asks them to come up with “big solutions,” and added, “We are going after really big problems.” One program targets fighting fires in high rise buildings via water cannon that shoots 800 gallons of water per minute. “We’d be able to fly up the side of a building and shoot water inside,” Baxter said, commenting on the importance of preservation of people and property. He also noted that infrared surveillance is another development project focused on providing visualization and geo mapping in fire prevention efforts. In that case, they are partnered with Intterra for the visualization and systems development. AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2020 ISSUE NO. 16 13