Conventional Heli-Logging, Canadian Air-Crane

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Standing Stem Harvesting

Conventional Heli-Logging

Feller Buncher Harvesting

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Canadian Air-Crane is your innovative partner in today’s forest industry.

A leader in heli-logging innovation, Canadian Air-Crane has developed "standing stem harvesting," a revolutionary method of retention harvesting that involves pulling standing tree stems up and out of the forest with no damage to the tree or surrounding area.

"Standing stem harvesting" involves the Erickson S-64 Aircrane using a hydraulic grapple with two shackles welded to the frame allowing the grapple to be suspended horizontally. The horizontal grapple grabs the stem where it stands as the Aircrane snaps and pulls the tree off at the precut points. Unlike other helicopters, the Aircrane has the power and capacity to dead lift the tree above the canopy and not drag it through the forest.

Standing stem harvesting opportunities have been identified in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. This method has also been used extensively on conventional helicopter timber harvesting operations across British Columbia.

Standing Stem Harvesting

Strengths:

Maximizes the individual stem value.
Can be incorporated in
and around conventional logging settings to maximize stand value.
Using the standing stem technique in a conventional helicopter logging setting allows stems to be placed, creating a hillside of ‘bunk’ logs to hold the wood on the hill.

Environment:

Areas previously thought to be out of reach for conventional logging.
Locations where slope stability concerns will not allow conventional logging. Allows a percentage removal of the stand value.
Gullies, riparian areas.
Conventional settings.
Within helicopter settings where bluffs and steep ground do not facilitate saving out the stem value.

Values:

Less shattering
means increased recovery at the mill.
Higher market value.
Offers variable retention approach or “light footprint harvesting.”
Future rotations available based on stem size.

Focus:

Value, Value, Value.
Get the stem from the bush to the mill in the same form for maximum value.
Taking it a step beyond with banding of high value oversize cedar falling direction, improvements, and lengths.
Reducing internal shatter associated with seams in the wood.