Today we are continuing an occasional weekend feature we started in June called Fire Traffic Area. This post serves as the beginning of an open thread where readers can leave comments about issues not yet covered — or maybe they have been covered. This is literally an off-topic thread. What do you think needs to be pointed out, asked, or discussed within the fire aviation community? You have the floor.
The usual rules about commenting apply. And remember, no personal attacks or politics, please.
Appreciate the peer-to-peer info and news on this site. Here in Western Canada, we don’t often hear the concerns that our fellow firefighters have in their roles. Been at this since A-26 bombers and DC-6 aircraft were used throughout BC…interesting to see “new” aircraft used in aerial attack. I’d love to be in a 747 or L1011 on a run. Be safe, everyone.
Ain’t gonna ever see any L1011’s dropping retardant but you could see a DC10 (the less techno/more successful tri motor. ).
You need to FOIA the AFUE study to see if you can get the pre-production version. Word is the draft sent to the Fire directors office was 3 times as big as the one that was published and had some crazy air tanker effectivity statistics and probabilities.
Stellar
Another USFS project requiring an FOIA.
Crazy effective stats, eh?
So when can we do away with the ridiculous “time in grade” nonsense?
Check out the OVERNIGHT fire behavior on the Klamath, just south of Oregon:
https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/McKinney-Fire-explodes-in-Northern-California-17340155.php
AND watch this:
https://twitter.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1553275936342044672
The Coronado National Forest in Arizona has permanent helicopter steel dip tanks that are gravity fed by springs. They use them for initial attack. After a couple bucket loads they are empty and take quite a while to refill. In New Mexico south of Grants there are wind mills with huge stock water tanks that engines refill from. They are only about 3 feet deep. I never saw a helicopter dip out of one.
Unfortunately, any tank set up in semi- or more remote area makes a good target for shooters.
What is anyone hearing about the pre-positioning of rigid Helicopter Dip Tanks creating Dip Sites. Placed in Dry Zones or area’s where there is not viable hover fill sites. They are already in place for Initial Attack especially placed next to hydrants. Specifically in California. Los Angeles County – Air Ops have been doing it for years. But now they are beginning to install those that have a built-in high flow Fill Valve & Float that fill and re-fill automatically and unattended. Riverside County has now done the same. Laguna Beach Fire installed one 2 years ago and it was used extensively during the May Coastal Fire.