Video from MAFFS C-130 air tanker training in Idaho

Lead plane and MAFFS
Lead plane and MAFFS during annual training in Idaho, April, 2020. Still image from Airailimages video.

Last week, April 25-29, military C-130s and lead planes converged in Boise for the annual Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) training. The US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, other federal wildland fire agencies, and CAL FIRE organized the event.

Frederick A. Johnsen, Publisher of Airailimages, was there and sent us this video.

Australia and New Zealand building advanced simulation capability for training fire aviation personnel

Immersive virtual reality can include participants from anywhere in the world

Wildfire simulation, from an aircraft.
Wildfire simulation, view from an aircraft. NAFC image.

Australia and New Zealand and the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) have started an Aviation Simulation Project to enhance the training of personnel who use, manage, supervise, and support fire aviation in the two countries.

The project aims to advance the use of simulation across all fire aviation roles. The initial focus is on the roles of Air Operations Manager (AOM), Air Attack Supervisor (AAS), and Air Observer (AOB).

Fire simulation classroom.
Fire simulation classroom. FS3D image.

One of the first steps they are taking is to conduct webinars to demonstrate different simulation tools. A company from the United States, Becker Support Services, was invited to describe their immersive virtual reality training, FS3D. The presenters included Ryan Becker and Trevor Maynard, CEO and CTO respectively of Becker. In addition, Joel Lane and Kenneth Perry of another company, Anchor, Flank, and Pinch participated; they partnered in developing and commercializing FS3D.

The video below, published Oct. 28, 2021 by AFAC, the National Council for fire and emergency services, shows the webinar that featured Becker’s system.

This technology has advanced to the point where numerous participants can take part in a simulation of a wildfire using virtual reality headsets, including firefighters on the ground and in the air.

“We demonstrated that it is possible to run productive virtual sand table exercises with participants from anywhere in the world, even when travel restrictions are in place and gathering indoors is prohibited,” Ryan Becker told Fire Aviation. “Our first users have all had strongly positive reactions. They genuinely wanted to keep training after we ran out of time, and said they wanted to be able to do it on their own time.”

Wildfire simulation
Still image from a wildfire simulation, view from the ground. FS3D image.
Wildfire simulation
Still image from a wildfire simulation, view from tan aircraft. FS3D image.

The image below shows scenes from a reconstruction of an actual recent fire in Southern California, the 454-acre Route Fire of September 11, 2021 that crossed Interstate 5 seven miles north of Castaic. Joel Lane and retired MAFFS instructor/test pilot Luke Thompson both worked the fire in real life and helped develop the reconstruction.

Simulation of Route Fire
Reconstruction of Route Fire. FS3D image.

More information about NAFC’s Aviation Simulation Project.

Video from military MAFFS aerial firefighting training

MAFFS training
Still image from AIRAILIMAGES video.

Frederick Johnsen sent us this video he shot at the Modular Airborne Firefighting System training and certification that was held last week. The military C-130s and lead planes were flying out of Jeffco Air Tanker Base in Colorado. The event was sponsored by the US Forest Service and included classroom sessions, flying and ground operations for Air Force aircrews, civilian lead plane pilots, and support personnel from the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other state and federal firefighting agencies.

MAFFS training to begin in Colorado May 10

Modular Airborne Firefighting System

MAFFS training 2021
MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) ground crew members prepare a U.S. Air National Guard MAFFS equipped C-130J Hercules Aircraft from the 146th Airlift Wing for takeoff at San Bernardino Air Tanker Base, California, during MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) training, May 6, 2021. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber)

In the video below, Lt. Col. Richard Pantusa, the 302nd Airlift Wing aerial firefighting chief, discusses upcoming training with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System. The wing will be flying out of Jeffco Air Tanker Base with C-130H model aircraft fitted with MAFFS May 10-16. Certification training, sponsored by the US Forest Service, includes classroom sessions, flying and ground operations for Air Force aircrews, civilian lead plane pilots, and support personnel from the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other state and federal firefighting agencies. (U.S. Air Force video by Laura Fitzmorris)

On May 3-7 the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing and the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing conducted their MAFFS training and certification in Southern California, based at San Bernardino.

MAFFS training scheduled for Southern California next week

Military C-130 aircraft will practice dropping up to 3,000 gallons of water, getting ready for the wildfire season

MAFFS cockpit video, Calfornia, August 22, 2020 fire
Still image from MAFFS cockpit video showing another MAFFS making a retardant drop, California, August 22, 2020.

The California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing and the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing will join the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and other firefighting agencies for aerial wildland firefighting training May 3-7 at the San Bernardino Air Tanker Base.

“The Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) program provides an important supplement to our national airtanker capacity,” said Kim Christensen, deputy assistant director for operations for the USDA Forest Service. “Our partnership is successful year-after-year due to the commitment of both the federal wildland fire agencies as well as our military partners.”

The C-130s equipped with MAFFS are essentially converted into air tankers and provide a critical “surge” capability that can be used to augment wildfire suppression efforts. MAFFS are only activated when all commercial airtankers that are part of the national airtanker fleet are fully committed or not readily available.

The aircraft will be doing practice water drops in remote areas of the Angeles National Forest. Residents in the area may see low-flying C-130 aircraft and U.S. Forest Service lead planes throughout the week. MAFFS aircraft will load water at San Bernardino and travel to drop zones on the Angeles National Forest for the practice drops.

MAFFS air tanker
A C-130 Hercules, equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System, drops fire retardant April 27, 2011, above West Texas. MAFFS is capable of dispensing 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than 5 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

The 146th Airlift Wing and 152nd Airlift Wing C-130 Hercules aircraft are equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s MAFFS, which can drop up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than 10 seconds across a quarter-mile line. The system slides into the back of the military aircraft, and retardant is released through a nozzle through the troop door on the left side. MAFFS aircraft can be activated to supplement the USDA Forest Service and the civilian airtanker program to slow or stop the spread of wildland fires across the nation. The Department of Defense can provide up to eight MAFFS equipped aircraft, as required.

“Certification training allows these units to refine their processes and helps cement our working relationships with NIFC and other agencies. It is critical training that helps ensure the entire team is postured and prepared to deliver critical firefighting capability,” said Lt. Gen Kirk Pierce, commander, U.S. Air Forces Northern.

The 153rd Airlift Wing from Cheyenne, Wyoming and the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, are also part of the AEG MAFFS program and will be participating in certification training the following week in Colorado.

Colombian C-130 MAFFS
A Colombian Air Force MAFFS makes a demonstration water drop in Columbia, March 29, 2017. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

NSW RFS installs aerial firefighting simulator

They will soon be adding an Aviation Centre of Excellence to the new Training Academy

NSW RFS Training Academy Aviation Centre of Excellence
Flight simulator at the NSW RFS Training Academy. NSW RFS image.

In 2019 our Australian friends in the New South Wales Rural Fire Service built a Training Academy in Dubbo for improving the skills of fire personnel when responding to emergencies across the state. They soon will be adding an Aviation Centre of Excellence which will have four flight simulators.

NSW RFS Training Academy Aviation Centre of Excellence
Flight simulator at the NSW RFS Training Academy. NSW RFS image.

One of those simulators is being used now in the Academy, and is based on a helicopter cockpit for trainees wearing virtual reality helmets. The immediate plans are for air attack supervisor roles and later for other airborne positions.

NSW RFS Training Academy Aviation Centre of Excellence
Flight simulator at the NSW RFS Training Academy. NSW RFS image.

The system will be for maintaining currency, and to give trainees new to aerial firefighting the chance to find out if the role is for them.

NSW RFS Training Academy
NSW RFS Training Academy. NSW RFS image.

The simulator was delivered in December and the staff has been building training scenarios, with some based on actual fire situations.

Located at the Dubbo City Regional Airport, the Academy includes classroom and practical training with a large auditorium, lecture theater, indoor and outdoor training areas, gym, and catering services with a commercial kitchen. The academy will ultimately have 97 bedroom accommodations for trainees.

“I think it’s really important that apart from the fact that we are launching the simulator here, it becomes another building to support our academy,” said Commissioner of the NSW RFS Rob Rogers. “This is the first of four simulators that we will have in that building. Having the ability to train our own people and use simulator systems like this to be able to upskill people in a non-hazardous environment and obviously then complement that with actual flying will help our people become better trained and have access to better technology.”

The video below is an introduction to the flight simulator.

The next video is about the Training Academy.

NSW RFS Training Academy Aviation Centre of Excellence
The planned Aviation Centre of Excellence. NSW RFS image.

Helicopter-based wildfire suppression training scheduled for Colorado

National guard units from six states will participate

blackhawk helicopter drops water
South Dakota National Guard Blackhawk helicopter drops water during training at Angostura Reservoir. May 20, 2016. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

National guard units from six states will participate in helicopter-based wildfire suppression training next week along with firefighters from two cities and the U.S. Forest Service.

The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) will conduct airborne and virtual classroom training April 9th-18th near Longmont with the Colorado Army National Guard. This annual interagency wildland fire training exercise is in coordination with Boulder Fire-Rescue, the City of Longmont, the U.S. Forest Service, and other National Guard units from Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, and New Mexico. The majority of aircraft will be flying April 13th-18th.

The training exercises, incorporating federal, state and local authorities, include practicing aerial water bucket drops at Denver-metro lakes and reservoirs to improve coordinated response for air- and ground-based response elements during emergencies.

“This type of interagency training with both our community and military partners to suppress wildland fires ensures unity of effort and speed of response.” said DFPC Director Mike Morgan.

In addition to aerial operations, organizers have planned virtual academic training at the Army Aviation Support Facility, Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora. Training will be conducted in a safe, socially distant manner. Months of planning have included coordination with local authorities for site locations, movement of equipment, and environmental considerations.

“This training is an integral part of our overall domestic response training,” ‎said Colorado Army National Guard, Director of Aviation and Safety, Colonel Will Gentle. “We will use this exercise to qualify and validate our aircrews to ensure they are ready to respond to wildland fires. Integrating aircrews with ground personnel adds a dynamic and complex layer of realism.”

The goal is to provide a safe and realistic training environment for comprehensive training, practice, and development of skills for all agencies involved.

Blackhawk helicopter drops water
South Dakota National Guard Blackhawk helicopter drops water during training near Angostura Reservoir, May 20, 2016. Photo provided by South Dakota Wildland Fire Division.

Video of bucket drop training for military Blackhawk flight crews

Screenshot from Airailimages video.

water dropped from a helicopter
Closeup view of water dropped from a helicopter. Screenshot from Airailimages video.

The video below, shot by Fred Johnsen of AirailImages, shows Arizona Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter crews training with local firefighters at Picacho on February 21, 2021.

The training was a multi-agency firefighting exercise in partnership with Casa Grande, Avra Valley, and Queen Valley Fire Departments, as well as the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the U.S. Forest Service. About 50 crews with the National Guard were trained and certified for future support efforts for state and federal response.