Karo-Aviation
visit CAL FIRE Sacramento 2015-3
Article and pictures by Rolph Klijn
CAL FIRE is short for California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection. This is the organization responsible for the fire protection
and fire fighting of 31 million acres of Californian wild land. For this
their over 10.000 employees and volunteers operate over a 1.000 fire
fighting vehicles from almost a 1000 locations across California. They
also operate 35 aircraft and 15 helicopters in the fire fighting role.
The CAL FIRE Broncos fly with a crew of two,
a pilot and the Air Attack Officer, whose job it is to
coordinate all aerial assets on a fire with the Incident
Commander on the ground. |
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At Sacramento McClellan Park al maintenance on the aircraft and
helicopters is being done. CAL FIRE does not have purpose built
aircraft. They use old military aircraft that have been modified for
their new role. That gives them multiple challenges. Not only do
they need to modify the aircraft, they also need to maintain them.
As in some instances the aircraft itself are no longer built it
falls on to CAL FIRE to make parts and modifications themselves. For
instance the S2 Tracker. New parts are no longer made and their
maintenance people have already taken all the useful parts of the
airframes still lying around the bone yard at Davis Monthan. When
something breaks down or is at the end of its life time they have to
make the new parts itself.
We were shown around the workshops where they are working on the
brakes and wings of the S2. An new wing cannot simply be made out of
any piece of metal. Not only do they need to take into account the
original material but also if that is still the best material for
its new role. After all the S2 was never designed as an aerial fire
fighter. What helps is that the technicians can at least make use of
the original drawings.
As the aircraft are performing in a role they were not designed for
all, the modifications are based on their own specialized role and
experience. At the time of our visit all aircraft were being fitted
with new Garmin navigational aids en were being rewired. The OV10
force was being fitted with new exhausts for a better performance
and better environmental conditions.
It is very challenging for the technicians. The OV10 maintenance
manager, Russel Knight, told us that it is also very rewarding.
Working with highly professional and motivated people to overcome
all the challenges that are never the same from day to day.
The man and woman of CAL FIRE have only a short time for maintenance
and modification as a new fire fighting season is expected to start
early. Last year was the worst season in recorded history.
Expectations are that this year will be even worse.
Present during our visit were the:
- OV10A “Bronco”. These are used as aerial commanders.
- S2T. The aerial tankers, the teeth of the force.
- UH1H. Used for fast attack on fire’s.
- King Air 200/C-12. Used for training and executive transportation.
For the specialized role the S2 air tanker is fitted with a 1200
gallon tank for the retardant (they do not use water). The doors are
computer operated so the pilot can accurately spray either a lot or
very little. Depending on the request of the aerial fire commander.
The UH-1H aircraft were significantly
modified to meet CAL FIRE's specialized needs. The modified
helicopters were designated as "Super Huey's". The "Super
Huey" sported a larger, more powerful engine, transmission
and rotor system.
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The aerial fire commander takes up his place in the
back seat of an OV10. From here he has the best overview and can direct
the aerial and ground fighting forces. To become an “on the scene
commander” you have to be a very experienced in the fire fighting force
and take up years of training. You need to speak the language. When
during big fires a lot of teams are deployed he makes full use of his 6
different radio sets .
The work load for all involved is high
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