New helicopter bucket to help in firefighting |14 June 2010
This is a specialised bucket carried by a helicopter to release water in places that firefighting crews cannot reach, such as on mountain tops or in forest areas.
The donation was made recently by the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) and coincided with Biodiversity Week.
SIF chief executive Frauke Fleischer-Dogley handed over the bucket to the principal 
Helicopter Seychelles’ director of operations Derrick Dooley then accepted it from Miss Athanasius.
The bucket, which cost US $5,000, was imported from Canada. There was only one in Seychelles before the new donation, and they are both being stored at the company’s base at Providence.
Those present, including staff of Helicopter Seychelles, the DRDM and the Department of Environment, watched a short demonstration of how the bucket is used during firefighting operations.
James Chang-Tave representing the DRDM said more of these helicopter buckets are needed as the department is now looking into the possibility of including Zil Air in firefighting operations.