Night flying helicopter used on the Mountain Fire

Posted on Categories HelicoptersTags

The U.S. Forest Service has been using their new night flying helicopter and air attack ship on the Mountain Fire west of Palm Springs, and proudly produced this graphic.

Night flying data, Mountain Fire

And, they should be proud. It is a big step for an agency that is not known for innovation in their aerial firefighting program. The night flying helicopter concept was reintroduced in the USFS during the first part of June this year.

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6 thoughts on “Night flying helicopter used on the Mountain Fire”

  1. Good work by the crews involved – how was the bucket being filled at night?

    Were fatigue issues noticed for pilots in particular?

  2. Does Cal Fire have a twin engine helicopter? Thought they were flying the 205’s like Kern, Santa Barbara, and Orange Counties. All of which I believe are night vision certified. Kern was recently given a citation for night hoist rescues from the Forest Service. Back in the day, the FS flew 212’s for night ops. I believe one was out of Rose Valley til it closed?

  3. You are right , Steven

    But CalFire and LACoFire has a few ships in their inventory.

    So I would imagine between the pressures of communities after the last few to 5+ years…it is a move off of center.

    But let us give credit where credit is due….The contractor, pilots, support crew(s), and firefighter who staff this ship…….THEY are doing the good work

    The USFS might be able to get some credit as far as contracting. Surely NOT flying the ship or the ancillary aviation duties. They can get credit for “managing” but surely not the flight or maintenance portion, in many senses.

    Like Bill says …they ought to be proud. But LA and others have been doing this including the US Army have been doing this for years.

    The USFS momentum as far as night flying ships has been directly related on how they manage the rest of the aviation program. Granted, they are the biggest users of helicopters during the season, but it is the contractors that are hanging their butts out there every day just like the firefighter……

    Without the contractor and contract ships out there…..the USFS fixed wing and helicopter operations, the fire aviation program would cease to exist. The small USFS aviation program could not do all of this without these contractors…

    But after 33 years…a guarded kudos

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