Getting some help finally from the military

[Monky]

The whole civilian assets part of this thread has not been a player for many years.

You get to go up and spray yet Hoser?

[theGinsue]

Just saw the press brief from Peterson AFB. Didn't see you on T.V. though Hoser.

[El Caballo Loco]

The camera was mounted to high. If you looked hard enough you may have been able to see his shadow on the bottom of the screen.

[Birddog1911]

The whole civilian assets part of this thread has not been a player for many years.

Thanks for correcting me, Hoser. It's been 5 years since I was last doing MAFFS. Be safe out there.

[TennVol]

Quote from 25 Jun 2012 USNORTHCOM press release: "Two MAFFS aircraft will be coming from the 153rd Airlift Wing in Cheyenne, Wyo., and two aircraft will be from the local 302nd Airlift Wing here in Colorado Springs, Colo. The aircraft will be operating from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. MAFFS are important because they provide a "surge" capability that is used to boost wildfire suppression efforts when commercial airtankers are fully committed or not readily available. This criteria was recently met."

And this is from WildFireToday.com: "The aircraft can be requested by the U. S. Forest Service after it is confirmed that all commercial air tankers are committed."

And then there is this from MAFFS PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND PROCEDURES 8338.2.1
(Revised September 2001)

"MAFFS aircraft are intended for activation and use when regular fire agency and private sector airtanker resources are depleted or not readily available. Federal law prohibits use
of MAFFS units if these conditions are not met. MAFFS units will be the first released from the incident.

Each airlift wing can activate 2 C-130 aircraft equipped with MAFFS units. Activation time ranges from 12 to 24 hours, depending on availability of aircraft and flight crews."


Bottom line - no MAFFS flights can take place until all other aerial assets have been committed or are otherwise unavailable...

[275RLTW]

Retarded. That all civilian assets must be used first.

Sure. Guess police should stop responding to calls and we'll just let the National Guard handle it!

[Birddog1911]

Hoser could definately speak to the complexity better than me, but standing up 4 aircraft, support crews, flight crews, equipment, etc., etc., is a pretty daunting task. Aircraft have to be preflighted and then the MAFFS equipment loaded into the aircraft. As I understand it, some of the replenishing equipment was located in Idaho, and was trucked down through the night.

[jerrymrc]

Hoser could definately speak to the complexity better than me, but standing up 4 aircraft, support crews, flight crews, equipment, etc., etc., is a pretty daunting task. Aircraft have to be preflighted and then the MAFFS equipment loaded into the aircraft. As I understand it, some of the replenishing equipment was located in Idaho, and was trucked down through the night.

I have a new found respect for ya because even though I was Army I have an understanding of how the transitions for a 130 take place. (I also had to load for them back in the day)

[Monky]

Sure. Guess police should stop responding to calls and we'll just let the National Guard handle it!

Perhaps you fail to grasp what my intent was. Take off the 'foil hat'.

With as many wild fires as are currently burning in this state, to delay any by waiting for civilian assets to be used it retarded. We are not talking about Martial law being declared and the army running in the streets. It is about using any and ALL available resources WHEN they are needed. I'd say after breaking containment and burning 80k+ acres I'd say the .gov could cut the bs and see that help was needed...

Oh and the other fires that popped up in the state in the last week.. yeah.. those might require attention too.. So it's not about the national guard responding to police calls.. it is about getting the equipment needed and used that is readily available to knock these fires out.

[Hoser]

You get to go up and spray yet Hoser?

We finally got to go fly until Mother Nature grounded us.

Just saw the press brief from Peterson AFB. Didn't see you on T.V. though Hoser.

I was on the plane working. I am usually wearing an illegal baseball hat or something else, so I tend to avoid cameras.

Hopefully today we can get back to work early.