I Work in Aerial Firefighting. Ask Me Stuff!

[KABQ]

As the title states, I work in aerial firefighting. We've been in the news a lot lately, so if anyone has anything they want to know feel free to ask!

This is limited to AERIAL firefighting only. While I have knowledge and insight into other aspects of wildland firefighting, I'm going to avoid any questions about land management, etc.

Picture to keep it relevant to Broncos:

Sponsored

 

[MNBigfoot]

I was working a wildland fire, with visibility near nothing and got buzzed by what I believe was a CL-215(?), didn't see the plane till it was perhaps 200 feet away. Are they navigating by sight or mostly by instrument? And what's the lowest height they work at (not talking about air tractors)?

 

[KABQ]

I was working a wildland fire, with visibility near nothing and got buzzed by what I believe was a CL-215(?), didn't see the plane till it was perhaps 200 feet away. Are they navigating by sight or mostly by instrument? And what's the lowest height they work at (not talking about air tractors)?

Yep, VFR see-and-avoid around the fire. However, when visibility is low due to smoke the USFS will usually put a pause on ops until it improves. Ultimately the decision to execute or abort a drop in marginal visibility is at the pilot's discretion, and some pilots are bolder than others.

The lowest we're supposed to operate is around 300 ft AGL for drops, then climb up and out of the area of operations to clear the airspace for the next tanker in line.

 

[MNBigfoot]

You dropping water or retardant? Forgot to say, what a beath of fresh air it is, when air support came in, hats off to you guys.

 

[Oldhippie]

Saw a night/twilight tanker drop over burning fire line…after the drop the LA fire line was gone…impressive stuff you guys do…cheers!!

 

[HeliPilot]

I watched that bird dropping the retardant a few days ago. Looks as if it drops in stages, not just a dump all at once kind of thing. Is it staged, opening separate bays sequentially??

 

[KABQ]

You dropping water or retardant?

In the US we exclusively drop retardant, but in other countries we drop water or retardant.

 

[Brian_B]

Are there things we can do to make it more likely to get aerial coverage to protect our home?

Like... mowing a sign in our yard that says "Free Donuts", or putting a big target on our roof, or anything?

 

[KABQ]

I watched that bird dropping the retardant a few days ago. Looks as if it drops in stages, not just a dump all at once kind of thing. Is it staged, opening separate bays sequentially??

The amount of retardant we drop is requested by the Forest Service in terms of coverage level. We have several ways to control the flow of retardant, through the amount the doors open on each of the three tanks and by controlling how many tanks are open. I'm guessing you're seeing sequenced drops where one tank opens at a time, then the next tank starts opening as the first tank tails off so there are no gaps in coverage.

 

[KABQ]

Are there things we can do to make it more likely to get aerial coverage to protect our home?

Like... mowing a sign in our yard that says "Free Donuts", or putting a big target on our roof, or anything?

If you send me donuts I'll make it happen

 

[Bschurr]

@KABQ many thanks to you and all your colleagues who are working around the clock to help others. Hats off to you sir!

 

[Johnny Rebel]

Do you guys strictly fly the larger jets or do you also use smaller turbo props like the AT 802's?

Also curious which is considered to be the riskier operation - firefighting or crop dusting? The guys that used to crop dust for us were a unique breed!

 

[Brian_B]

If you send me donuts I'll make it happen

If you have a way for me to get them to you I can make that magic happen

 

[MNBigfoot]

Do you guys strictly fly the larger jets or do you also use smaller turbo props like the AT 802's?

Also curious which is considered to be the riskier operation - firefighting or crop dusting? The guys that used to crop dust for us were a unique breed!

The crop dusting operation by me, actually went into firefighting with 9 air-tractors speced for scoop and drop. Seems like every year or two we hear of a cropdusting death in the state.

 

[KABQ]

Do you guys strictly fly the larger jets or do you also use smaller turbo props like the AT 802's?

Also curious which is considered to be the riskier operation - firefighting or crop dusting? The guys that used to crop dust for us were a unique breed!

Some companies fly a mix of airframes, but we just fly the big birds.

I don't really have much experience around crop dusters, but my impression is that those guys are nuts.

Sponsored