International Air Response is a leading provider of aerial dispersant services and technology. When responding to an oil spill, IAR C-130s are equipped with the RIDSS aerial dispersant system. RIDSS stands for Rapid Installation and Deployment Spray System and was developed by IAR in conjunction with petroleum industry customers as a more capable alternative to the older ADDS Pak system still in use by some aerial dispersant providers. RIDSS allows multiple types of dispersants to be applied in precise patterns at variable dosages that can be adjusted in flight. Because IAR C-130s are equipped with RIDSS, they can remain pressurized (with the rear cargo ramp closed) during dispersant operations which eliminates the safety hazard of dispersant drift into the crew compartment of the aircraft.
Because we do not provide scheduled freight services with our dispersant aircraft, IAR customers can rest assured with the knowledge that their dedicated C-130 dispersant aircraft and trained flight crews are standing by ready to respond to an oil spill at a moment's notice.
More about RIDSS:
RIDSS is a proprietary aerial spray system owned by International Air Response and FAA certified in 2006. The built-in redundancy of RIDSS means unmatched reliability on every spray mission. Its ease of installation and portability permit us to rapidly change our C-130s from a 'sprayer' configuration to a 'transport' configuration in about one hour. This flexibility allows IAR customers to utilize the C-130's cargo capability for logistics missions when environmental factors make dispersant operations unfeasible. The RIDSS system consists of a high capacity 3000 or 4000 gallon tank and twin high-flow 1200 GPM pumps. It employs advanced digital controls and a variable pressure system which allow us to adjust and monitor the dispersant dosage in flight. RIDSS can be interfaced with satellite tracking and communications which allow our customers to map dispersant treated areas while remaining in constant communication with the aircraft. The result is enhanced accuracy of dispersant treatment, real-time mission flexibility, and safety. Our RIDSS configured C-130 dispersant aircraft are also available for testing and evaluation of new types of dispersants.
