agairupdate.com FALL 2017
BULGARIA TURKEY ISRAEL join Macedonia’s wildfire battle
keep turning… in this issue Volume 35 Number 9 | Fall 2017
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AT-802: 25 years of innovation and growing Bulgaria, Turkey, Israel join Macedonia’s wildfire battle Fighting Portugal’s deadly Pedrogao Grande wildfire Los Angeles County Fire - Guardians of Southern CA
PUBLISHER: Bill Lavender - bill@agairupdate.com EDITOR: Graham Lavender - editor@agairupdate.com ACCOUNTING: Sandy Lavender - accounting@agairupdate.com ADMINISTRATION: Casey L. Armstrong - casey@agairupdate.com ADVERTISING: Ernie Eggler - ernie@agairupdate.com Melanie Woodley - melanie@agairupdate.com CLASSIFIED ADS: classifieds@agairupdate.com Melanie Woodley - melanie@agairupdate.com PRODUCTION: Deborah Freeman - aau@agairupdate.com CIRCULATION: Mary Jane Virden - maryjane@agairupdate.com subs@agairupdate.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Carlin Lawrence - carlin@agairupdate.com Alan McCracken - mccrackenalan@yahoo.com Robert McCurdy - robert@agairupdate.com Tracy Thurman - thurmantracyt@gmail.com LATIN AMERICAN REPS: Victoria Blanc Chalking - victoria@agairupdate.com Ernesto Franzen - ernesto@agairupdate.com Gina Hickmann - gina@agairupdate.com Pat Kornegay - pat@svatx.com © Copyright 2017 AgAir Update retains all rights for reproduction of any material submitted, to include but not limited to articles, photographs, emails and bulletin board posts. All material remain the copyright of AgAir Update. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in part or whole, without the written consent of the publisher. Editorial published do not necessary reflect the views of the publisher. Content within AgAir Update is believed to be true and accurate and the publisher does not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions. Unsolicited editorial manuscripts and photos are welcomed and encouraged. We cannot be responsible for return unless submissions are accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Advertising deadline is 12 noon, on the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. AgAir Update (ISSN 1081-6496) Published monthly by Blue Sky Investments, Inc., 475 Myrtle Field Road, Perry, GA 31069 for $39 USD for one year in the U.S.; International rates are $39 USD for one year. Periodical postage paid at Springfield, MO and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to P.O. Box 850, Perry, GA 31069.
On the cover: Israeli Police Air Tractor AT-802 dropping 3,100 liters of water on Macedonia wildfire. Photo IP (Israeli Police).
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On this page: Bulgarian AF Mi-17 identification number 417 during fire-fightin operations in the village of Osincani on 5 Aug 2017 (photo Igor Bozinovski) See story page 12.
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AT-802: 25 years of innovation and growing The Air Tractor AT-802 knows how to evolve and thrive. Since its certification 25 years ago, we’ve seen the aircraft continuously improve and grow through OEM and STC innovations, enabling it to take on a wider range of specialized applications from ag operations to aerial fire-fighting to bulk fuel hauling to counter-narcotic enforcement and military close air support. Time and time again, and with every new mission it has faced, the AT-802 has proven to be versatile, reliable and productive. In describing the aircraft’s evolution, the words of Air Tractor President, Jim Hirsch ring true, “It is unparalleled.”
Today, Aero Spray is the largest Fire Boss operator in the United States , operating nine Fire Bosses and one wheeled AT-802 SEAT. For leading aerial firefighting operator Aero Spray, one AT-802 evolution stood out among the rest. When the AT-802 Fire Boss was equipped with Wipaire amphibious water scooping floats in 2003, it took the aircraft’s firefighting capability to the next level. While it was initially deployed in Canada and Europe, it was clear that the Fire Boss could also make an immediate impact in firefighting operations in the United States. So, in 2007, Aero Spray jumped at the opportunity to become the first Fire Boss operator in the country. Today, Aero Spray is the largest Fire Boss operator in the United States, operating nine Fire Bosses and one wheeled AT-802 SEAT on exclusive use and on-call contracts with the Federal Bureaus of Indian Affairs and Land Management and the states of Minnesota, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and California. The contracts include inter-agency use by the US Forest Service, State of Florida and the City of San Diego. The productivity and cost effectiveness of the combined Air Tractor AT-802 and Wipaire’s Fire Boss technologies have been a game-changer in aerial firefighting and continue to attract the attention of state and federal entities tasked with protecting US land and forests. For 25 years, Air Tractor AT-802s have been performing missioncritical roles in a wide variety of sectors all over the world. When it comes to aerial firefighting, the unmatched agility, speed and muscle of the Fire Boss fleet has been instrumental to Aero Spray’s ability to make a difference protecting homes, property and people across the United States. Aero Spray joins the industry in celebrating all that the Air Tractor AT-802 has achieved and looks forward to many future innovations yet to come.
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This is my everything There’s a lot riding with this Air Tractor. My livelihood, my reputation—my life is in this airplane. When lives and property are at stake, I want the total package. Safety. Airframe. Engine. 24/7 support. A champion for my way of life and a supporter of this industry. The stakes couldn’t be higher. So I need everything. With Air Tractor, I get everything. JESSE WEAVER CHIEF PILOT, 802F FIRE BOSS AERO SPRAY, INC.
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Marc Mullis marc@agairupdate.com
from the SEAT
Managing pandemonium The 2017 fire season is in full swing here in the United States and it has been a busy one with total acres burned running about two million above the ten-year national average. The activity has been spread over all geographical areas with the states of Montana and Nevada being hit really hard. As I write this in early August from South Idaho numerous firefighting aircraft are grounded due to the dense smoke created by the enormity of the fires. On one day in August, the skies over the Snake River Plains contained twenty-two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs), eight heavy air tankers and one Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) working three fires. There were also an uncounted number of helicopters sharing the airspace. So far, the entire season has seen days like this and there is no relief in site from the hot dry weather. As the fire season approached in early May, the prospect for an Exclusive Use SEAT Contract became completely unraveled leaving contractors and flight crews wondering whether they would work or not. All SEATs would be going out under the On Call Contract at a much greater cost to the government and in turn the American taxpayer.
As the resource orders started going out in early season, it became apparent the government was selecting solely by bid price. This meant dozens of aircraft that had been positioned had no guarantees they would get work. Some had been out for weeks in hopes of being put on a contract. In the end, many pilots and drivers gave up and moved on to find another way to make a living. When the fires did start, it left numerous aircraft sitting idle for lack of a crew. It will be interesting to see how the Department of Interior goes about rectifying these problems this winter. As the era of aircraft chasing fires across district or state lines broadens, flight crews often land at pumpkin time hundreds of miles from home base without a reservation for a room to sleep in. Across the West, hotel rooms are increasingly getting harder to secure during fire season which coincides with summer vacation. More than once this year I have found myself flying all day and not getting into a room until after midnight. In my opinion, it should be the job of dispatch to secure lodging when it becomes apparent a crew is going to overnight. We certainly cannot do it from the cockpit.
heavy crews I found out they are experiencing the same problems. It is frightening when you look around at the age of the majority of pilots and realize we are a bunch of old farts. It is disheartening to spend time and money getting them carded only to have them jump to the side when the grass appears greener. I was brought up believing loyalty was an asset. It doesn’t seem to be that way anymore. As busy as the season has been, it is often easy to let your guard down and lose the edge. Keep it sharp, safe and prosperous. I hope to see you in the mountains one day.
The ongoing pilot shortage is not just within the SEAT world. While visiting with several
Marc Fall 2017
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BULGARIA TURKEY ISRAEL
Israeli Police Air Tractor AT-802s in flight over Macedonia. Photo IP (Israeli Police)
join Macedonia’s wildfire battle by Igor Bozinovski
The 2017 summer firefighting season saw many disastrous wildfires raging across the Mediterranean and on the Balkan Peninsula where Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia have been the most affected. The dry weather with weeks of extremely high temperatures caused intensive wildfires that stretched and exhausted regional civil protection systems, forcing some Balkan nations to dispatch a call for international aid in specialized aircraft for fighting wildfires. Having successfully used its three 2009-procured Air Tractor AT-802A Fire Boss single-seat aircraft, Macedonia’s Protection and Rescue Directorate (DZS) was quite successful in fighting Macedonian summer wildfires, a battle in which it also employed a pair of Macedonian Air Force Mi-17 transport helicopters, each equipped with a 2,000-liter Bambi Bucket system. However, with over 25 huge wildfires active across the nation in the last days of July, the Macedonian government recognized its national civil protection system needed assistance and asked friendly nations for aid in firefighting aircraft to support efforts of Macedonia’s existing aerial firefighting assets. &
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The first nation to dispatch assistance was neighboring Bulgaria on the early morning of August 2nd. A Mi-17 transport helicopter from the Bulgarian Air Force deployed to Petrovec Air Force base near Macedonia’s capital Skopje. The aircraft and its 12 personnel operated with the Bambi Bucket system from executing 81 water drops on different wildfires in the vicinity of Skopje. However, with limited resources and facing a scheduled 100-hour inspection, the Bulgarian aircraft was forced to return home in the morning of August 6th. Another country that promptly responded was Turkey. Ankara’s assistance came in the form of one Kazakhstan-registered Burundaiavia Airline Mi-8MTV-1 transport helicopter already operating under a firefighting contract in Turkey. The aircraft with Turkish inscription “ORMAN” (forest), and red identification number “22”, arrived at Petrovec on August 3rd and remained in Macedonia until August 7th, accumulating 19.5 firefighting flight hours during which 82 water drops were made with the Bambi Bucket system. The last nation that provided support to Macedonia was Israel. Their deployment
started with the arrival at Macedonia with a coordination team that landed at Petrovec the afternoon of August 7th aboard a Raytheon B200T Zufit 4 twinturboprop aircraft of the 135th “The Kings of the Air” squadron of the Israeli Air Force (IAF). This was followed on August 8th by the arrival of a logistical team aboard a Lockheed C-130E Hercules transporter of IAF’s 131st “The Yellow Bird” squadron. That same day, after a 6.25-hour ferry flight, a pair of Israeli Police Air Tractor AT-802 dual cockpit SEATs landed at Petrovec completing the aid composed of four different aircraft and 27 personnel.
Another country that promptly responded was Turkey. Supported by Chim-Nir and Elbit Systems of Israel with flying and ground-support personnel and in coordination with Macedonia’s DZS, the Israeli AT-802s were actively executing firefighting operations accumulating a total of 15 flight hours during which 34 firefighting missions were completed that resulted with delivery of
over 85,000 liters of foam-enriched drops. The Israeli deployment ended on when Macedonia was again able to continue fighting wildfires on its own.
Israeli Police Air Tractor AT-802 in flight over Macedonia. Foto IP (Israeli Police).
With continuous 100% operational readiness and relying on only three pilots during 2017 summer season, Macedonia’s three AT-802 Fire Boss fleet accumulated 164 firefighting flight hours between May 3rd and August 10th. During this period, 365 drops were made delivering over 1.1 million liters of water over Macedonian wildfires. Executing their missions, the Fire Boss’s mostly used DZS’s water-filling installation at Skopje airport, although water scooping was also done over Mantovo, Ohrid, Mavrovo and Tikves lakes.
Macedonian AT-802A Fire Boss pilot, Stoje Arsovski, graduates from training in Avialsa’s AT-802 simulator in Valencia Spain on 2 August 2017.
Burundaiavia Airline Mi-8MTV-1 transport helicopter seen parked at Petrovec Air Force base. Photo PRD (Macedonia Protection and Rescue Directorate).
Macedonian Air Force Mi-17 during firefighting operations in the village of Osincani on 5 Aug 2017. Photo Igor Bozinovski.
Macedonia’s Protection and Rescue Directorate Air Tractor AT-802A Fire Boss seen landing at Skopje airport on 6 Aug 2017. Photo Igor Bozinovski
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Fighting Portugal’s deadly Pedrogao Grande Wildfire, the Fire Boss aspect by Igor Bozinovski
A series of 156 wildfires that erupted across central Portugal in June turned into an epic tragedy that, within hours, claimed the lives of 64 civilians and caused serious injuries to 204 others, including more than a dozen firefighters that were fighting the terrible firestorm. By the evening of June 20th, a total of 44,969 hectares of land in the mountain areas of Pedrogao Grande municipality, some 170 km north-east of Portugal’s capital Lisbon, were turned into burned ground. The tragedy saw a massive response of Portugal’s National Authority for Civil Protection (ANPC) that immediately dispatched over 1,700 firefighters, 400 fire-fighting vehicles and all available firefighting aircraft to the affected areas. Included in the aerial fleet were at least four
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A line of four Avialsa T-35 Air Tractor AT-802A Fire Boss single-seat fire-fighting aircraft seen at Viseu Goncalves Lobato airport in central Portugal at the beginning of the 2017 fire-fighting season. (photo Luis André Diogo)
helicopters, six Air Tractor AT-802 Fire Bosses and two Canadairs. The assistance in manpower and aerial means also came from neighboring Spain that dispatched four CL415 Canadairs as well as from France and Italy, each providing a pair of Canadairs. In total, over 2,000 firefighters supported by two battalions of Portugal Army soldiers and a significant number of law enforcement and civil protection personnel fought the blazes actively supported from the air by a mixed fleet of aerial fire-fighting aircraft. Among the aerial fire-fighting assets that answered the call for help issued by Portugal’s authorities were the Air Tractor AT-802 Fire Boss amphibious fire-fighting planes operated in Portugal by the local, Tondela-based company AgroMontiar. Strategically dispersed, and operating from two central Portugal municipal airports in Viseu - Goncalves Lobato and Proenca a Nova, AgroMontiar decreased dispatch time to around 8 minutes, and a total of six Fire Boss aircraft were promptly dispatched to fight the disastrous Pedrogao Grande wildfire.
Equipped with computer-controlled “set it and forget it” FRDS (Fire Retardant Dispersal System) firegate system, the AT-802 has ability to attack the fire with unsurpassed precision and in different “bombing” modes. (photo Luis André Diogo)
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The statistics show that the average drop was slightly over 3,000 liters every six minutes and 40 seconds, Operating under the command of Carlos Creveiro, AgroMontiar chief of flight operations, the AT-802 Fire Boss fleet scooped water from nearby Cabril Dam Reservoir maintaining 100% fleet operational readiness in the critical period during which a total of 189 flight hours have been accumulated; out of which 140 flight hours in direct fire-fighting operations that resulted with 1,261 aerial water drops, delivering over 3,783,000 liters of water.
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The sole Agro-Montiar single-seat AT-802A Fire Boss is seen here landing on a water surface to scoop 820 US Gallons (3.104 liters) of water before delivering that load over the wildfire visible in the background (photo Luis André Diogo)
The statistics show that the average drop of each Fire Boss was slightly over 3,000 liters every six minutes and 40 seconds, achieving an impressive nine drops per hour that equals over 27,000 liters of water dropped by each Agro-Montiar aircraft per hour, for a cumulative total of over 162,000 liters per hour by the engaged fleet of six Fire Boss aircraft.
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Having been strongly backed by the Spanish, Valencia based company Avialsa T-35 - the operator of world’s largest Air Tractor AT-802 fire-fighting fleet - the 2017 fire-fighting fleet of Agro-Montiar is composed of seven Fire Boss aircraft, one of which is used as a
Avialsa T-35 pilot has taken this photo from his Fire Boss cockpit during June 2017 operations for extinguishing the deadly Pedrogao Grande wildfire. Seen on this photo are six Fire Bosses with three Fire Bosses already scooping water at the Cabril Dam accumulation with three more heading to land on that water surface, including the camera-ship aircraft (photo Avialsa T-35)
backup fire-bomber and as a platform for training 12 pilots flying the Fire Boss fleet in Portugal.
The overall efficiency of AT-802 fleet in Portugal was clearly illustrated in 2013 when Agro-Montiar was awarded with the ANPC multi-year agreement that is still in place. That year, the fleet of six Fire Boss aircraft accumulated 1,195 flight hours out of which 798 flight hours in fire-fighting operations divided among 360 firefighting missions that resulted in 5,141 aerial water drops equaling over 15,423,000 liters of water dropped on wildfires in Portugal.
For smooth operations in Portugal, apart from three highly-experienced Avialsa mechanics that are constantly deployed to Agro-Montiar bases from May to October, the company also relies on Avialsa’s EASA Part 145 AT-802-specialized maintenance, repair and overhaul organization and its related logistics and spare parts supply system.
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Los Angeles County Fire - Guardians of Southern California by Scott Dworkin
At close to 4,100 square miles, Los Angeles County, California is one of the largest counties in the United States. The Los Angeles County Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to over 10 million residents who reside in the unincorporated sections of Los Angeles County. That are includes 88 cities, and close to 80 miles of coastline of the Pacific Ocean and the nearby islands of Santa Catalina and San Clemente. This territory accounts for almost 30 percent of the regions residents. L.A. County Fire, which numbers close to 5000 total personnel utilizes a wide array of advanced fire apparatus and lifesaving equipment to protect and serve its citizens, including eight helicopters as part of the Departments Air Operations Section that are available 24/7 for missions including aerial firefighting and search and rescue.
HISTORY
L.A. County’s Air Operations Section was formed in 1957 with a single pilot and mechanic. The early operation flew one Bell 47 helicopter capable of dropping 100 gallons of water. Today’s Air Operations Section is headquartered and located at Barton Heliport at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, California. Air Operations is headed by a Battalion Chief, and three Fire Captains that support day to day operations. The unit is staffed by 12 pilots that are augmented on duty in the air by 18 qualified aircrew Firefighter/Paramedics. The L.A. County Barton Heliport is staffed by 17 full time mechanics that maintain the Departments fleet of helicopters which currently consists of three Sikorsky S-70 Firehawks, (Copters 15, 16 and 19), and five Bell 412’s, (Copters 11, 12, 14, 17 and 18).
EQUIPMENT
The unit’s helicopters are all multi mission capable and can be configured for fire, emergency medical services and search and rescue
Photos by Scott Dworkin
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missions as needed. Each are equipped with fixed water drop tanks for aerial firefighting and hoists for search and rescue operations as well as provisions to carry swift water rescue teams and their associated equipment. Additionally, all of the Air Operations helicopters utilize 30 million candle power Spectrolab SX-16 Nite Sun searchlights no assist in night operations. The helicopters are equipped with specialized infrared scanning devices and monitors which to allow crews to find hot spots during a fire from the air that are not able to be seen with the naked eye. These devices are used to direct target water or retardant drops on fires and also assist in strategic direction for fire crews on the ground to make sure hot spots do not reignite or spread. Capable of transporting up to 13 (3 crew and 10 passengers) and fitted with a 1,000 US gallon (3,800 L) tank, the S-70 Firehawk is arguably one of the most effective aerial firefighting and rescue tools available anywhere in the world. Los Angeles County took delivery of its first two Firehawk helicopters in 2001 to better serve the emergency needs in the sprawling metro area. The County was the first local government agency in the world to purchase this type aircraft.
HELICOPTER OPERATIONS
L.A County Fire acquired their third S-70 in 2005. A fast and highly maneuverable derivate of the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter found in service with various militaries around the world, these helicopters provide Los Angeles County with advanced technology fire-fighting and paramedic capabilities. The Firehawk derivative includes specific firefighting and EMS support equipment, specialized medical service interiors for evacuation of patients, multi mission capable avionics, night vision device capable avionics and is fitted with landing gear extensions to clear the added belly tank underneath the helicopter.
The Firehawk has the ability to drop water or fire suppressant material accurately over a target area. Once at a water source the aircrew have flexible options for refilling the water tank. The helicopter can land next to the source while water is pumped aboard via a connector on the side of the tank or it can hover directly over any water source, and water can be pumped aboard through a 3.6m-long snorkel hose, both options at a rate of 1000 gallons a minute. The tank also contains a 115 litre foam reservoir. Foam can be mixed with the water during flight at whatever concentration is required. With its powerful twin General Electric (GE) T700 engines it can rapidly transit to and from a water source and back to the fire area in mere minutes. Additionally, because of the immense power provided by the GE engines the helicopter is capable of doing very heavy long line hoists, even at higher altitudes where most helicopters would struggle. The Air Operations fiveAg-Nav Bell 412 standalone can each transport up to 10 (2iscrew The all new flow controller a soluand 8 passengers) are fitted a 360 aerial US gallons (1,400 L)oftank. tion for and efficient andwith accurate application granuTwo of the 412s are the HP version which is powered by the Pratt lar products. The system is designed with a unique&flow Whitney PT6T-3BE engine, with an improved transmission over the controller that uses 2 built-in motors to accurately adjust original 412 model, with the other three being the newer Bell 412EP the dispersing rates of granular material, providing a version, powered by the & Whitney engines, featuring high level of Pratt accuracy. With PT6T-3D USB support, material types a dual digital automatic flight control system. and application rates are stored and may be changed
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Both variants of the 412 utilize a composite four blade main rotor auto-stop, and info messages on screen. system. Similar to the Firehawk, the 412 is capable of fulfilling the multi-mission role of medical response and transport, technical rescue, personnel transport and aerial firefighting. The 412 can ferry and insert a crew of eight wildland firefighters rapidly to the frontlines
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and features an average fill time for 360-gallon onboard tank of only one minute, making the average turn-around time on drops a quick five minutes, including fill time, making the 412 a strong asset during a firefight with each of the county’s Bell 412 helicopters able to deliver over 4,000 gallons of fire suppression material per hour, which in many cases exceeds the performance of larger, fixed-wing air tankers. In addition to its own fleet of aircraft, the county leases at least two Bombardier CL-415 air tankers, commonly known as Super Scoopers, from Quebec, Canada during the active wildfire season in Southern California, typically September through January. The amphibious aircraft are capable of landing in the nearby Pacific Ocean or any large body of water and “scooping” up to 1,600 gallons of water from the surface giving them the ability to stay airborne and relatively close the scene of the wildfire for an extended period of time providing there is a large enough water source nearby. Most of the bodies of water used by the amphibious aircraft have been predetermined as adequate to be used by the aircrews well ahead of fire season and are strategically located throughout the County, however the aircraft provides the flexibility to use any water source as long as it has the required room to land and then take off. The County also leases at least one Erickson Air-Crane S-64F that can hold 2,650 gallons of water or retardant, also based at Van Nuys, to augment its fleet of helicopters.
COUNTY OPERATIONS
The mission of covering such a large area, from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the highest mountains in the Angeles National Forest at over 10,000 feet, out to the remotest parts of the local Southern California desert in the east provides Air Operations with a multitude of calls on a daily basis that range anywhere from vehicle accidents that require an aeromedical evacuation flight to a local trauma center, to lost or injured hikers in the hills all the way to fighting the largest brushfires. Because of the vast distances involved the unit forward deploys a minimum two helicopters and aircrew daily to locations strategically spread across the county. These locations are the North Operations (NCAS) at Fire Station 129 in Lancaster, the East Operations (ECAS) at Bracket Air Field, in LaVerne, and depending on fire conditions a third location, the Central Operations (WCAS) at Fire Camp 8 in Malibu is used. These forward deployed locations are designed to provide expedited EMS and Firefighting service in remote locations and areas without available nearby Trauma Centers. By using these
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forward deployed locations, once dispatched, helicopters typically arrive on scene within 10-15 minutes. L.A. County Fire also utilize over 100 pre-determined helispot landing areas spread throughout the county that hold a water supply, typically a hydrant, so that a team on the ground can forward deploy to the helispot, set up for the helicopter, where the pilot can then land, refill and quickly be airborne and back on the fire line.
HIRING AND TRAINING
With the demanding and varied missions flown by the county, to be accepted for employment by the Air Operations Section is no easy task. Pilots who apply typically will have thousands of hours of experience in rotorcraft. The department will only consider pilots that have experience flying in all types of environments and conditions, given what they will likely experience flying for Los Angeles County. If a prospective pilot’s application is accepted, the department will then send applicants through a six-month probation/training period, this includes initial training at Flight Safety International on the Bell 412. If an applicant has prior Sikorsky S-70/UH-60 military experience, those applicants may also attend the S-70 initial course also at Flight Safety during that first six months. If they do not have prior UH-60 experience, the initial transition training will take place in that aircraft after the six-month probation is completed. The first six months are typically devoted to transitioning the new pilot to the department’s multi-mission roles of firefighting, search and rescue, and emergency medical calls. This transition includes each pilot obtaining an EMT-I certificate, Incident Command System training, wildland fire behavior training, night vision goggle training, and training specific to the County Fire Department. As the department hires only experienced pilots, the initial transition period flights are mostly designed to introduce new pilots to the agency to the surrounding area, airspace, mission specific requirements with the existing flight crews, maintenance, and support personnel. Finally, an evaluation flight with one of the unit’s senior pilots is the final step in the probation period before the new hire pilot becomes a permanent employee. Once the probation period is complete, the pilot then will receive further training, including more advanced training in EMT skills and annual 412 and S-70 refresher training. Pilots also receive mission training in hoist, short-haul, and swift-water and blue water rescues as well as external load, large animal rescue, helitorch, and unaided/ aided (NVG) flight training. Consistent and continual training, even for
the most veteran pilot and aircrews is paramount at Air Operations, as many of the pilots expressed that they will see things on flights every week that they may have not seen before. A snapshot look into some of the statistical data from the unit bears out the diversity of calls, as last year Air Operations responded to over 1000 emergency medical service calls, and over 280 fire calls alone resulting in over 700,000 gallons of water and foam dropped. The aircrews also conducted close to 100 hoist rescues throughout the County.
MUTUAL AID
The assets of LA County Air are also routinely called by other agencies in the local area for support on various calls, especially on large brush fires as part of the mutual aid system in place. The mutual aid system was established to provide assistance to jurisdictions in nearby counties and throughout the state, when the size of a major emergency exceeds the control capabilities of a local fire department. This system can be activated for such things as major wild fires, earthquakes, and large scale hazardous materials emergencies. The air assets from LA County Fire are always in high demand and requested by mutual aid incident commanders and the air unit may respond several times per month during fire season as part of this system. All of this makes Los Angeles County’s Air Operations the largest, and busiest multi-mission Fire Department aviation program in the United States.
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Scott Dworkin has been a freelance photojournalist based in the Northern Los Angeles area since 2008 with a primary focus on military aerial photography. In addition to photography, Scott also is an accomplished writer and has been published in multiple international aviation publications.
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