CFPA NEWS August 2014

The California Fire Pilots Association newsletter

(Sunset over Hollister, photo Jimmy Ferreira)

Around the Bases News Sweden on fire

CAL FIRE air attack management school Drones and fires PLANES 2 : Fire & Rescue

(Copter 202 during an ATGS training session, photo Barry Smith)

N°2/2014 >August 2014 Chico Mudslingers 2014

Three Jimmys at Hollister

photo Jimmy Ferreira

Editor : Jerome Laval. Redaction and graphic design : Cyril Defever Please forward your pictures and articles to: e-mail : [email protected]

2 CFPA news The Pilots at the Columbia Air Attack Base would like to Chico Mudslingers 2014 nominate Mike Silva for the Mechanic of the Year Award. His work ethic and unmatched attention to detail are truly incredible. He spends HOURS EVERY DAY inspecting, greasing, and fixing even the most minor items regardless if the temperatures are over 100 degrees in the middle of the afternoon. The guy just never seems to stop or run out of energy!!! It's not an exaggeration to say he inspects our aircraft with a flashlight and a mirror, or is continually checking our planes as we hot-load, or spends late hours The "I like Mike" shirts are a by the Columbia Airbase Pilots until he is absolutely satisfied it is small proud token of appreciation Rich Schlink perfect. His unwavering energy for all that he does without Dan Rieger and constant care give us the recognition every day. He was truly Tom Voorhees Erik Hakenen confidence to know we are flying embarrassed and just thinks he is an impeccably maintained and doing his job, yet he we know he safe aircraft, so we can focus on definitely goes way beyond what is the job. expected. We like Mike!!!

August 2014 3 Aero Flite News

anker 160 and 161 were Coulson Aviation declared operationnal by News Tthe US Forest Service at the end of July. Aero Flite and Conair choose the RJ85 from British Aerospace to adapt the 3 300 US Gallons constant flow tank inspired by the one used on Sécurité Civile Dash 8. The maiden flight occured on september 2013. The cells are longer and the engines are more efficient than older BAe 146.

The aircraft can cruise 380 kt allowing quicker dispatches. Tanker 160 and 161 were already activated and sent to Redding where they fought heavy fires north of California and Oregon. A third RJ 85, Tanker 162 was used on fires in British Colombia. At the end of July, T162 moved to Moses Lake ATB, WA, where it logged around 60 hours in two weeks. (photos Jerome Laval)

NEWS

10 Tanker Air Carrier News

third DC-10, Tanker 912 has been converted by 10 ATanker Air Carrier in July 2014 and arrived to new 10 Tanker's headquarters in Albuquerque in August. The company moved from Victorville to their new base in 911 iand 910 are on exclusive use stairladder while taxiing at Moses New Mexico in october 2013, to contracts for USFS. Lake ATB on july 22nd. It was back be more US centered for aerial Tanker 910 suffered minor in service on july 28th. firefighting operations. Tanker wing damages, strking a mobile ( photo 10 Tanker LLC)

4 CFPA news Coulson Aviation News

New C-130 Next Gen Airtanker Press Release Date : August 14, 2014

Coulson Aviation (USA) Inc. of Oregon announced today it has secured a second C-130 from Lynden Air Cargo, LLC of Alaska for firefighting operations. Chief Executive Officer, Wayne Coulson, said: “We are excited to increase our capacity by adding a second C-130 to our firefighting fleet and will bid opportunity in the fourth exceeded expectations. start the upgraded 4,800 USG quarter of 2014, and we want We are committed to providing Coulson RADS XXL tank install to be ready to participate in the our customers with the most conversion into the new aircraft bid process. Our current C-130Q cost effective firefighting aircraft during November 2014. firefighting aircraft has been and will continue to invest in It is our understanding that the performing extremely well, and technology to enhance their USFS will have a “Next Generation both the aircraft and the 4,000 performance.” II” Air tanker USG RADS XL tanking system have (artwork Steve Whitby, photo Jerome Laval)

NEWS

August 2014 5

photo Mickael Parson /TT

by Frédéric Marsaly

photo Jens L'Estrade/ Expressen.se

On July 31st, a forest fire broke out in overwhelmed. Swedish Coast Guard sent Sweden, in Sala area, 50 miles northwest one of its Coast Guard Dash 8, FLIR equipped, of Stockholm. After five for fire mapping. days, the fire was still On August 5th, two uncontrolled and burned French Agency Sécurité about 24 000 acres to Civile CL-415 (Pélican 32 become, so far, the worst and 37) with a Beechcraft fire incident in recent 200 King Air, to be Swedish history. The used as an Air Attack Stockholm’s government aircraft, took off from called the European Union Marseille -Marignane Emergency Response Airport for a 1200 miles Coordination Centre for trip to Vasterås Airport, help. Their firefighting where they landed in assets consisting of 15 civilian and military the evening after a stopover in Groningen, helicopters with bambi-buckets, were Nederland.

photo Jens L'Estrade / Expressen.se photo Lisa Mattisson / Expressen.se 6 CFPA news The next day, two CL-415 from Italian State Agency (Italian fire fighters) also arrived from Roma. On the first morning, smoke and low clouds grounded the aircraft but later that evening, operations started and the four Scoopers made 120 drops in three hours. This great productivity was possible due to numerous nearby scoop able lakes. The next four days, the four aircraft flew intensively. The Swedish government wanted to keep the aircraft active until photo Suvad Mekonjic / Expressen.se august 15th but on august 10th, the fire was contained. The The Italian team returned aircraft and their crews were home on august 11. They released and flew back home. overnighted in Strasbourg, About 1500 drops were made, France, and landed in Roma the 843 by Italian Scoopers and day after. The French delayed 687 by French Scoopers. The their return flight to because Bombardier 415 is a 1500 US of some meteorological issues. Gal water bomber, that means They took off on 12th august that about 2 250 000 US Gal of in the morning to Gröningen, water or foam were dropped on Netherlands for another the fire in this short period of stopover. They were back in time. The difference of figures Marseille later that day. between Italian and French The fire burned about 37000 crews comes from that each acres, destroyed about 20 French pilot being restricted houses. Sadly, a Swedish driver to 60 drops a day while Italian lost his life and another man crews don’t have this limitation. was slightly burnt.

photo Suvad Mekonjic / Expressen.se

Aerial Assets: Vigili Del Fuoco () : CL-415 : I-DPCQ n°12, I-DPCV n°15 Sécurité Civile (France) : CL-415 : F-ZBFS “Pélican” 32 (with 50th anniversary paint scheme), F-ZBFV “Pélican” 37 Beechcraft 200 King Air : F-ZBFK “Bengale” 96 Kustbevakningen (Sweden Coast Guard) : DHC-8-300 : 501 SE-MAA Swedish civilian and military helicopters water-bomber AS-315B, AS332 (Swedish Air Force), AS-350B3, Hugues 369, UH-1…

photo Swedish Coast Guards August 2014 7 TRAINING THE ATGS

CAL FIRE AIR ATTACK MANAGEMENT SCHOOL or thirty years, Cal Fire has Text and photos of 18 students, nine from Cal Fire been training air tactical and nine from the U.S. Forest Fgroup supervisors (ATGS) at Service or other federal or local an annual school held each May agencies (this year Los Angeles at McClellan Field in Sacramento c County sent a D and Redding Air Attack Base. The F representative). school is two weeks long and The first week is classroom includes lecture, flight simulator training which covers basic time, and flight time in air attack aviation topics, aircraft during simulated fire by Barry D. Smith terminology, fire traffic area scenarios. Each class is made up procedures, principles of retardant usage, and strategy and tactics for aerial firefighting. The first week also includes work in the Aerial Firefighting Simulator at McClellan. Developed by the US Forest Service, it is used to practice and train on aerial coordination over a fire. It is not a motion-based simulation system, but multiple users can see and interact as if over a real fire. Role players can include several tankers, helicopters, a lead plane, and an ATGS. The ATGS students communicate with the other aircraft, coordinate the

▲The elements are ready to simulate the Backhorn incident. airspace, and direct them on how to fightthe fire.

8 CFPA news During the evenings of the first week, the students take orientation flights in the OV-10 to get a feel for the aircraft, visibility, and where the radio panels are located. They also get training on how to program the aircraft radios, how to describe ground targets to the other aircraft, and how to use GPS to communicate locations to both air and ground units.

The second week begins with more classroom topics such as helicopter strategies and tactics, target description training and classroom practice application, and operations.

The students spend a majority of the second week in the air using the Redding Air Attack Base. They CAL FIRE AIR ATTACK MANAGEMENT SCHOOL begin by pairing up in OV-10 Bronco’s. One role plays the tanker and the other is the air attack ship. They take turns practicing target descriptions and making simulated drops on a fire. Other flight training includes a large fire handoff exercise, fire perimeter mapping, a lightning fire location exercise, and a lost scenario.

The final exam for the course is called the Buckhorn Incident. This is full on incident with actual aircraft on a simulated fire located about twenty miles from Redding. A rancher allows Cal Fire to use some of his land for the exercise. Bright orange temporary fencing is laid on the ground to simulate the perimeter of the fire. Aircraft involved include two S-2T tankers, two Cal Fire helicopters (one deploying a crew), a USFS lead plane, OV-10s, a USFS smokejumper aircraft with several , and Cal Fire’s King Air 200 (an ex-US Army C-12).

August 2014 9 Several USFS and Cal Fire personnel are on the scene of the fire and use radios to simulate the IC and several engines. A large smoke machine is sued to put up a column of smoke for the students to help them spot the fire and see how the winds will affect their attack plans. Personnel on the ground also throw out an occasional smoke bomb to simulate spot fires outside the perimeter. The tankers and helicopters actually drop water under the direction of the students.

The students are evaluated on radio usage, fire traffic area procedures, briefings to incoming aircraft (i.e. altitudes, altimeter settings hazards, other aircraft etc.), and accuracy and brevity of target description to incoming aircraft. After the days flying, there is a thorough debriefing of the students with the other participating pilots and ground personnel.

After their final exam and completion of the course, they still have on-the-job training and mentoring before they are allowed to act as an ATGS on their own. This occurs at an air attack base and can take several weeks depending on the base’s call volume. This training uses Cal Fire’s King Air 200 so the mentor and student can fly together. After thirty years, Cal Fire and the USFS have developed what is considered by many to be the world standard for air attack management training.

Barry Smith 775-972-4892 [email protected]

10 CFPA news Training the ATGS

by Barry Smith

August 2014 11 SAFETY

other aircraft engaged in missions" , and that "Unauthorized drone flights could lead fire managers to suspend aerial wildfire suppression efforts.”

Air operations over fires demand lots of attention. Looking at bird strike damages, imagine a drone strike!

Drone owners, Parasite drones over fires don't jeopardize Photo Frédéric Marsaly safety of aerial fire

n July 28th 2014 an Tolmachoff, spokeswoman for the fighting operations! incident occurred during California Department of Forestry OSand Fire air operations, and Fire Protection said about 50 Nautical miles Northeast of drones over fire, “This is definitely Saramento. Fire fighting airplane something new for us, But I don’t were grounded and air operations think it’s going to be the last time.” stopped when a drone was The National Interagency Fire spotted flying over the incident. Center of Boise declared that The county sheriff deputies " Unauthorized UAS [Unmanned managed to find the drone owner Aircraft System] flights could and grounded the flying engine. cause serious injury or death to This is the third time during on the ground. They this fire season that such an could also have midair collisions incident occures and like Lynne with airtankers, helicopters, and DRONE : Don't Rely On No-pilot

This is a bird strike, Imagine the impact of midair collision with a drone... Source : http://ourairspace.org/BirdStrikeHazard.html Entity

12 CFPA news OAS-25A (12/12) Interagency Aviation Safety Alert

No. IA SA 14-03 Date: June 25, 2014 Page 1 of 2 Subject: Conflicts with Civilian Unmanned Aircraft & Hobbyist/Remote Controlled Aircraft Area of Concern: Aviation Safety Distribution: All Aviation Operations

Discussion: Recently, a private citizen launched a DJI Phantom unmanned aircraft in order to acquire video of the Two Bulls fire approximately 10 miles northwest of Bend, Oregon. Although the aircraft remained outside of the TFR, it serves as a reminder that this emerging hazard is becoming more common due to their reduction in cost and the public’s interest in fire and natural disasters. These factors pose significant potential to interfere with our mission and therefore imperative that local aviation managers (UAO/FAO) and Incident Management Teams (IMTs) attempt to mitigate this hazard.

UAO/FAOs and IMTs should communicate/coordinate with the local media in order to educate the affected region’s public on unmanned aircraft (UAS and model aircraft) operations and how it can pose greater risk to the incident aircraft and inhibit response efforts if aircraft are forced to divert and/or abort their missions. Local law enforcement should also be engaged so that they can act on any reports of unauthorized activity. If that occurs, notify the FAA and provide them with the LE agency and operator’s contact information so that they can follow up with the appropriate enforcement action. Last, be sure to submit a SAFECOM for tracking and trending purposes.

Unauthorized UAS or remote controlled aircraft operations in close proximity to incidents can manifest in other unique ways as well. Some have sought to make this a business opportunity in that individuals or businesses offer data that can be collected with these types of unmanned aircraft. This type of commercial operation is not currently authorized by the FAA, DOI or USFS. Any attempt by an individual to fly an unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes on an incident should be reported. DOI and USFS are determining the potential integration of UAS into the incident environment via a deliberative process. No. IA SA 14-03 Date: June 25, 2014 Page 2 of 2 Increased unmanned aircraft activity presents hazards to ALL aviation users, including resource operations. Most commonly (but not exclusively), unmanned aircraft will be operating within close proximity to terrain thus increasing risk for low level resource operations. Resource operations including reconnaissance and aerial application with extremely limited reaction time usually operate without the protection a TFR provides within most incident operations. Partner organizations including states and other cooperators performing manned resource operations must also become aware of this hazard. Timely communication across jurisdictional boundaries amongst all parties through dispatch centers and partner contacts is essential to the successful mitigation of this hazard and flight safety in general.

Authorized unmanned activity is approved by Certificate of Authorization (COA) from the FAA. This also highlights the importance of flight crews checking NOTAMS prior to flying as any approved unmanned operation will be required to have the appropriate NOTAM in place. Questions pertaining to the use of unmanned aircraft should be directed to the DOI UAS Specialist or USFS Aviation Safety Manager.

UAS and Model Aircraft Operations Informational Links:

DOI UAS Policy: http://oas.doi.gov/library/opm/CY2013/OPM_13-11.pdf

FAA Initiative, Model Aircraft Do’s and Don'ts: http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/model_aircraft_operators/

FAA UAS Myth busting: http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=76381

FAA COA and UAS FAQs: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/aaim/organizations/ua s/coa/faq/

FAA reporting: http://www.faa.gov/contact/safety_hotline/

/s/ Keith C. Raley /s/ John Kent Hamilton Keith C. Raley John Kent Hamilton Chief, Aviation Safety Acting Branch Chief, Aviation and Program Evaluation Safety Management Systems DOI, Office of Aviation Services USDA, Forest Service

14 CFPA news Redding

LeadPlane pilots : Ryan Curl (Bravo 7), David Splithopf (Lead 5-8)

T60 crew : copilot Ron Carpinella, Captain Philipp Darnell

by Jerome Laval

August 2014 15 Planes 2: Fire and Rescue A pleasant surprise

By Franck Mée, pictures © Disney Enterprises

If you are found of aerial firefighting and love cinema, you don’t get a chance to combine those two passions very often: movies about aerial firefighters are scarce – chances are you saw Spielberg’s Always, and if you’re very good at digging out unknown movies you might have heard of the smokejumpers in Red Skies of Montana or Trial by fire, but that’s it. Therefore, the action of the second Planes movie being moved into wildfire suppression is promising: it could be a rare and delicate pleasure. It’s also a bit scary, since being a sequel to a spin-off is not usually the most promising omen in the movie industry. There’s no surprise on the technical side. Picture quality, design and rendering, lighting and editing are nicely crafted; there’s plenty of details to look at and rhythm is pretty good, the film being only 1h20 long. Of course, as the Planes movies come from the direct-to-video experts at DisneyToon, it falls short of Pixar’s standards when it comes to creativity, but it’s definitely well-made. The real deal comes with the scenario, a field in which the first Planes was plainly disappointing. To improve things, the Disney guys met Cal Fire people and watched the USFS training, and tried to keep everyone involved: smokejumpers, Since he already was an Air Tractor, Dusty logically retardant bombers and water scoopers, as well as becomes a Fire Boss, learning to work with retardant tactical and winch rescue helicopters all have a tanker / tactical coordinator Blade Ranger. real part. This is of course no documentary and inaccuracies happen, but overall this is a pleasant representation of an aerial task force. The scenario is a nice story about teamwork, bravery and discipline, as well as an initiatory journey in which the smug selfish racer has to learn about life. It is entertaining for kids, of course, as they are the primary target here; but it can also call to an older audience, mainly through winks that no kid of the year 2014 may notice, the most obvious being the ChiPs parody. Aerial firefighting enthusiasts also get a few winks of their own and you might Never trust a press release : Dipper is definitely not a actually be moved by the smiling faces of Tanker Super Scooper, since she looks like a Grumman and she 82 and Tanker 87, in a tribute to those who had says her first life was cargo in Alaska… “the right stuff”.

16 CFPA news Funny and well documented

Disney asked several aerial fire fighting experts to contribute by explaining tactics and proper terminology used during air operations. Still, it's a movie and not a documentary but film makers should be inspired by this attitude. Smokejumpers are not forgotten and have a real part in the plot, even though how their work is never really Jerome Laval explained.

Windlifter might be the strangest and best new character: his rotor blades make him look like a Rasta on weed, he talks powerful nonsense with Ed Harris’ voice, and he’s definitely the most impressive of the team.

August 2014 17 Enquiries: [email protected]

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18 CFPA news Airtank’art

by Steve Whitby

August 2014 19 Nor Cal on Fire

by Jerome Laval

20 CFPA news