© Kim Wickler
As wildfires continue to devastate parts of Canada, Luxembourgish helicopter pilot Kim Wickler is contributing to the emergency response by flying water-drop missions and infrared surveillance flights to support firefighting efforts in remote regions.
More than 30,000 residents have been forced to evacuate over the past two weeks in Canada due to severe wildfires. So far, around 2.2 million hectares of land have been destroyed, and the situation remains out of control in several affected provinces.
Ground firefighting crews are relying heavily on aerial support, and among those flying above the flames is Luxembourgish helicopter pilot Kim Wickler – and RTL had the chance to speak with him during his current deployment in Canada.
Wickler, who trained in Quebec and now has four years of experience as a commercial helicopter pilot in Canada, is currently based in Kenora, western Ontario. In recent shifts, he has been flying missions in Saskatchewan using what is known as a 'Bambi bucket' – a large water container suspended beneath the helicopter, used to scoop and drop water onto fires.
This type of mission requires precise flying and constant coordination with crews on the ground. Wickler's credentials include specialised training with an instructor, as flying in wildfire zones goes far beyond the standard pilot qualifications.
He describes the intense challenges of this work: low visibility, powerful thermal turbulence, and flying at low altitudes over active fire zones. Another major hurdle is the coordination of air traffic in areas where multiple helicopters and firefighting aircraft are operating simultaneously, often in remote regions without air traffic control towers.
At the moment, Wickler is flying missions with an infrared-equipped helicopter. He explains that these flights take place very early in the morning, before sunrise, to scan previously burned areas for lingering hotspots. The data gathered helps identify exact coordinates where water bombers, helicopters, or ground crews need to be despatched for further extinguishing efforts.
According to Wickler, Canada offers far more career opportunities for helicopter pilots than Luxembourg. Once the worst of the fires are under control, pilots like him are still kept busy – transporting workers to remote sites or filming aerial footage for television broadcasters.
