What is a type 3 helicopter?
A Type 3 is a helicopter that has a higher cruise speed than other large wildland fire helicopters and can get to the scene of a wildfire faster. Type 3 helicopters can carry four to five firefighters at a time and use a 180-gallon water bucket. Aviation. Fire management. Type 1 helicopters are almost exclusively “restricted” aircraft, meaning they don’t meet the safety specifications to carry internal civilian passengers (ie firefighters).