Helicopter Logging Method for Reduced Impact Timber Harvesting Operations

Traditional timber harvesting methods can result inserious impacts on vegetation structures, soil properties, and biodiversity inforested areas. Helicopter logging provides important advantages ofimplementing environmentally friendly harvesting techniques. However, the costof helicopter logging can be much higher than that of ground-based logging dueto high equipment costs, maintenance costs, the cost of flight crew, and fuelcosts. Thus, the helicopter logging operation should be carefully planned toimplement cost effective and environmentally friendly logging operations. Inthis study, the stages of helicopter logging and operational factors were firstdescribed, and then the operation cost, environmental concerns, and safetypractices in helicopter logging were discussed. It can be concluded that thehelicopter logging can be effectively used for extraction of timbers especiallyfrom environmentally sensitive areas where road construction and loggingoperations are restricted. In fact, helicopter logging may be the only optionto solve timber extraction problems in difficult terrains with steep slope.