Seosamsok "Concerns Over Wildfire Suppression Gap Due to Helicopter Contract Cancellation"

Producer's Unilateral Contract Termination Notice
Alternative Helicopters Are Used 'Reproduced' Products
"Decadal Long-Term Planned Purchases Needed"

Assemblyman Seo Samsuk

The Korea Forest Service is facing difficulties in acquiring equipment due to issues with the manufacturer while carrying out a ‘large helicopter purchase’ project to respond to forest disasters.

According to the National Assembly audit materials titled ‘All official correspondence with the large helicopter manufacturer’ submitted to Representative Seo Sam-seok (Yeongam·Muan·Shinan) of the Democratic Party on the 16th, it was confirmed that the Korea Forest Service received a unilateral contract termination notice from the large helicopter manufacturer.

The Korea Forest Service initially planned a budget of 55 billion KRW over three years to purchase large helicopters, effective equipment for large wildfire suppression, and reflected 38.5 billion KRW for the first two years up to this year.

However, in July, the helicopter manufacturer Erickson notified the Korea Forest Service via official letter of its intention to terminate the contract. The manufacturer stated that although it needed to obtain detailed product certification plans approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the process had not been handled for over six months, citing ‘force majeure and impossibility’ as reasons for contract termination. They also requested the return of the 2 billion KRW deposit paid for the contract.

This outcome may disrupt the forest disaster response system due to delays in the supply of large helicopters. Currently, due to the Russia-Ukraine war, there are difficulties in procuring parts for the medium-sized helicopter ka-32 (29 units), and with the approaching end of their service life, all may be restricted from use by 2030.

Accordingly, the Korea Forest Service planned to secure three large helicopters and three medium helicopters this year and allocated a budget to lease fixed-wing aircraft from the Air Force to attach water tanks. However, the fixed-wing aircraft project was canceled because it proceeded without consultation with the Air Force, and with the large helicopter contract also terminated, there is concern over the inability to secure equipment in time, raising fears of large-scale forest disasters.

Moreover, the helicopters supplied as alternatives are ‘remanufactured’ products, which are expected to pose maintenance and management challenges. Remanufactured products retain the fuselage but replace parts such as the engine and gearbox with new ones, then undergo safety inspections before delivery. All seven large helicopters s-64 currently owned by the Korea Forest Service are remanufactured products made between 1967 and 1968.

The problem is frequent breakdowns. From 2020 to 2022, the s-64 experienced 21 breakdowns. During the wildfires in Gangneung and Donghae, Gangwon Province in March 2022, and in Miryang, Gyeongnam Province in May 2022, two and four helicopters respectively failed to deploy due to malfunctions.

Representative Seo stated, “As the frequency of wildfires increases and damages grow, equipment must support this, but the Korea Forest Service’s equipment level is actually regressing,” and added, “With the plan to attach water tanks to fixed-wing aircraft canceled and the failure to secure large helicopters, there is concern that gaps will emerge in the wildfire suppression response system.”

He also suggested, “Since the issues with the Korea Forest Service’s helicopters have been pointed out annually, a thorough plan must be established,” and proposed, “It is necessary to consider contract methods for bulk purchasing helicopters based on medium-term plans, such as 10-year cycles like defense projects.”