1. a team of firefighters trained to fight wildfires from helicopters, typically by rappelling to remote locations and using hand tools and water drops
Usage: specialized term used in wildfire management and forestry; often used attributively (e.g., helitack crew, helitack operations)

Examples

• The helitack team was deployed to the remote mountain fire within hours.
• Helitack operations require specialized training in rappelling and aerial firefighting techniques.
• The crew's helitack experience made them invaluable during the wildfire season.
• Helitack personnel can reach fires that ground crews cannot access by road.
• The agency hired additional helitack members to expand its firefighting capacity.