Abstract: An aerial reel that can be suspended from a helicopter for laying out and picking up a flexible length of material, such as a fire hose, is described. The aerial reel includes a rotatable spool for winding and unwinding the hose around, a pick-up member attached to the spool for automatically or manually connecting to the fire hose, an actuatable drive system engaged with the spool for rotating the spool in either direction, and a frame with an attachment system for connecting the spool to the helicopter. The aerial reel is controlled by the helicopter pilot through the cockpit controls, and does not require the use of a person on the ground when laying out and picking up the fire hose.