Yellow Helicopters w/ two diagonal red stripes

[Aardvark]

Lately I've been seeing them several time a day, and hearing them too because they're LOUD. These canary-yellow helos have two diagonal red stripes on the lower rear quarter of the cabin. The fuselage seems roughly shaped like a Augusta Westland AW-139. They're flying back and forth daily (Sundays too) in a Southwest to Northeast route roughly over North Alexander/South Wilkes to Yadkin County when I see them.

This level of activity is new around here. One DDG search guessed maybe it's combined power-line inspection/pot-harvest observation. Anybody have any knowledge of what/who these are?

 

[Johnny]

Sounds like NC Forest Service, no idea what they're doing though.

 

[chiefjason]

Most of the Forest service aircraft out of Hickory are yellow. The right of way helos I've seen are whatever color they buy them as.

 

[Dave951]

We had a fire last week in Stokes Co that required air drops. The helos used looked like what you described.

 

[BlackGun]

Most of the Forest service aircraft out of Hickory are yellow. The right of way helos I've seen are whatever color they buy them as.

Chief nailed it. I’ve seen the yellow helos at Hickory.

 

[Aardvark]

Most of the Forest service aircraft out of Hickory are yellow...

We had a fire last week in Stokes Co that required air drops. The helos used looked like what you described.

Hickory to Stokes County and back looks like exactly the flight path they were on.

CFF comes through again. Thank you gentlemen.

 

[4seasonhunter]

I see them fly over W McDowell/E Buncombe when it's dry out, although I usually see a yellow chopper with green stripes.

 

[rcems2000]

This is from fire in Stokes County

 

[papa_smurf]

I've seen a few of them in the Hickory / Conover area this past week as well.

 

[RedneckFur]

Forestry planes are usually yellow. Some will have a green or red stripe on them. The NC forest service runs mostly A-stars, and a few old hueys. I'm not sure what the US forest service is flying.