Cal Fire Aircraft - Once the CAL FIRE Hawks are received by CAL FIRE from United Rotorcraft we are looking at a week or two before they are operational, not several weeks or months. The time required to get the crew trained and transitioned into the new aircraft also takes some time, especially depending on when the aircraft arrives, fire season versus winter months.
Example, C-104 arrived at McClellan March 12th and this week is flying in Air Rescue training. The conversion of the seven C-130 aircraft into air tankers is creeping along like a herd of turtles. Congress appropriated the funds in December, 2013 and directed the U.S.
Cal Fire Aircraft
Air Force to perform the necessary maintenance on the aircraft and to arrange for all of the conversion work, including installing the retardant tanks. The earliest they are expected to be fully operational as air tankers will be in late 2022 or in 2023. We have more information about this project, that looks like it will take a total of at least nine or ten years before it is done, in
another article. "Opinion: Congress should hold hearings on Air Force delays in converting C-130 firefighting air tankers." The Department of Defense and the Biden administration need to fix this fiasco. CAL FIRE's aviation program continues to look to the future in both technology and aerial firefighting capability.
The recent addition of the 12 Sikorsky S70i CAL FIRE HAWK helicopters and future addition of 7 Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules airtankers are an example of CAL FIRE's commitment to remain the premier firefighting aviation program in the world.
The California Fire Prevention Organization is a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) public benefit organization. We partner with cities, fire agencies and other non-profits throughout the State to deliver services and programs designed to bolster community resilience. Our wildfire, fire safety, earthquake, and first aid education, and training will save lives, and help build a stronger California.
We operate with grants and gifts, and do not take funds from a fire department's general fund. Our highly trained members are first responders (EMS, FIRE, Etc.) and work diligently to support the communities in which we work.
The new aircraft brings CAL FIRE's aerial fleet to more than 60 fixed and rotary wing aircraft, augmenting what is already the largest civil aerial firefighting fleet in the world. The 12 additional firefighting aircraft join CAL FIRE's world-renowned aviation program, which responds to thousands of wildland fires throughout California each year.
"Climate change is the driving force behind the extreme weather we see across the globe — creating hotter, drier conditions in Western States and contributing to unparalleled risk of catastrophic wildfire," said Governor Newsom. "Our investments in state-of-the-art firefighting technology and equipment, along with a focus on building resilience through fuel breaks, forest health projects and home hardening will ensure California is more prepared than ever to face an increasingly severe wildfire season."
SACRAMENTO – As part of Governor Gavin Newsom's unprecedented investments in emergency preparedness and wildfire response, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE) secured 12 additional firefighting aircraft this week for exclusive use in its statewide response efforts.
Within hours of securing these critical resources, nine of the 12 aircraft were immediately dispatched to new and emerging fires. CAL FIRE expects to pick up two more at the end of May at Air Methods/United Rotorcraft in Englewood, Colorado where they are being converted into firefighting machines.
Another is being painted now in Texas before it flies to Colorado for the conversion. The next one in the chain recently arrived on a barge in Texas after being shipped from Sikorsky's production facilities in Poland where two others are still being built for CAL FIRE.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 is slowing work on the helicopters in Poland. CAL FIRE's fleet of more than 60 fixed and rotary wing aircraft make it the largest civil aerial firefighting fleet in the world. CAL FIRE's world-renowned aviation program responds to thousands of wildland fires throughout California each year.
CAL FIRE's current aviation fleet includes Grumman S-2T airtanker, Bell UH-1H Super Huey Helicopters, Sikorsky S70i Helicopters, and North American OV-10A (& 1 D Model) Bronco Air Tactical Aircraft. These aircraft, highly skilled pilots, and aviation support staff are strategically located throughout California at our 14 air tanker bases, 10 CAL FIRE helitack bases and one CAL FIRE/San Diego County Sheriff helitack base.
Aircraft can reach the most remote State Responsibility Area (SRA) fires in approximately 20 minutes, with the goal of keeping 95% of fires at 10 acres or less. Governor Newsom's California Comeback Plan invests over $2 billion to combat and prepare for wildfires and advance emergency response, the largest investment in our state's history.
It also includes $5.1 billion over four years for immediate drought response and long-term water resilience. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is nearing completion on the conversion of another OV-10 Bronco. This will bring their OV-10 fleet up to 16;
they are all OV-10A's except for one OV-10D. The difference is the D's have much more powerful engines and have a maximum speed of 280 mph, 22 mph faster than the A's. The OV-10's are flown by contract pilots working for DynCorp with a CAL FIRE Air Tactical Group Supervisor in the other seat, responsible for managing the incident airspace and coordinating the air tankers and helicopter operations over the incident.
All CAL FIRE helicopters are flown by CAL FIRE pilots. CAL FIRE's current support contractor DynCorp International/Amentum provides airtanker and air tactical fixed wing pilot services, and all aircraft maintenance services. DynCorp International has received numerous awards from the Federal Aviation Administration.
LSI Logistic Specialties Inc. provides procurement and parts management services. Regarding the seven C-130s and it 'looking like it will take a total of nine or ten years before it's done..." What in the world would make this take ten years?
What a waste of time and money. They should just throw MAFFS in these like the USFS was doing and be done with it! We use "cookies" - including third-party cookies - to collect information about how visitors use the California Fire Prevention Organization website.
Cookies help us give you the best possible experience, continuously improve our sites and provide you with offers that are tailored to your interests. "It means more defense to the citizens of California -- the people we serve," Mohler explained.
"This gives us another tool in the toolbox to really protect lives and property is what it boils down to." The new Sikorsky S-70i helicopters that CAL FIRE has ordered have been arriving one or two at a time over the last year.
There are now five of the "CAL FIRE Hawks", as the agency calls them, in the state. Then it can take weeks or months before they finish their final inspections and outfitting and arrive at their new homes.
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