The North Carolina Forest Service Demonstrates Aerial Firefighting Operation to Squadrons
By: Senior Member Reginald Weaver, Aerospace Education Officer, Cape Fear Composite Squadron
and 2d Lt. Michael Byrd, Public Affairs Officer, Cape Fear Composite Squadron
The North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) demonstrated their forest firefighting capabilities to three NC Wing squadrons on Saturday, 05 August 2023 at their Eastern Aviation Hub located at the Duplin County Airport (KDPL). This NCFS facility opened recently in 2022 and is composed of two large aircraft hangars. The Cape Fear Composite Squadron hosted the event, which drew cadets, senior members, and family from the Pitt-Greenville Composite Squadron, the Harnett County Composite Squadron, and the Cape Fear Composite Squadron, for a total of 44 attending. The event was sparked by the suggestion of Senior Member Kyle Fortune and organized by Senior Member Reginald Weaver of Cape Fear Composite Squadron. Shane Caison and John Perrit of the NCFS conducted the tour. Their unit commander and chief pilot is Robert Delleo.
The NCFS has a complete fleet of aircraft for aerial firefighting operations, which are used across the state from Murphy to Manteo. The aircraft stationed at KDPL include three Air Tractor aircraft configured as Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) for suppressant drops, a Beechcraft T-34C Mentor lead aircraft used to guide the air tankers and other aircraft when dropping on wildfires, along with a Daher Kodiak 100 utility airplane that functions as their supply vehicle to carry equipment and supplies. In addition, the NCFS includes a fleet of C-172 and C182 aircraft that are used as observation and spotters to detect wildfires and provide advanced visual support, as well as a fleet of five helicopters, that are stationed across the state.
Caison and Perrit conducted the tour by stopping at each aircraft. They described the role and capabilities of each airplane, as well as methods for detecting and fighting wildfires. The C-182 Skylane is almost a stock airplane, with the addition of special use radios onboard. Pilots and crew may spend 7 hours a day spotting wildfires and supporting firefighting operations in flights of up to 3.5 hours. The Skylane provides “situational assessment and coordination with ground personnel, Caison said. “What does that mean? Fires don’t move in a nice, straight line,” he said, “where you can just drive up along a road and put them out.” Instead, they move in “fingers.” The scout pilot can coordinate with the firefighters on the ground driving bulldozers to make sure they don’t get surrounded and trapped by encircling fire.
As the Forest Service upgraded their firefighting fleet to more capable turbine-powered airplanes, they also upgraded their lead aircraft to a T-34C to keep up with the Air Tractors. Personnel at the NCFS actually procured the aircraft from the Davis-Monthan Air Force boneyard in Tucson AZ and made all of the upgrades to that aircraft in-house, with one exception. Since the aircraft technically remains “on loan” to the NCFS, the aircraft technicians at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base graciously applied the trademark yellow and black paint scheme to the airplane. Answering a question from the audience, Caison explained that black areas on key portions of the airframe are strategic in that they get repainted often. The color matching flat black is not a problem. Like the other airplanes in the fleet, the T-34C flies at 1000-1500 feet above ground level (AGL) most of the time. All airplanes get bugs on the leading edges of wings and struts; firefighting airplanes get a coating of bugs “you wouldn’t believe,” he said. Even with regular cleaning, those areas require new paint frequently. The T-34C looks fast and is. Its 210-knot cruise speed will more than keep up with the turbine-powered SEATs. A key role in its mission is to “spot” the release of fire retardant. If a firefighting pilot flying just above treetops waits until he sees the drop location, it’s too late. The spotter, ahead and off the pilot’s wing, calls the release.
The Daher Kodiak 100 is a relatively new utility aircraft model chosen for its speed and payload. It carries equipment and supplies such as fire hoses, powdered fire suppressant, and other gear. Just as important are the loaders, firefighters who travel with the team to quickly reload firefighting aircraft with the fire suppressant mix. Many off-site bases have been established at airports across the state with adequate water supplies to support the NCFS aircraft during their operations. The fleet is rarely more than 5 minutes from a suitable support base.
And finally, NCFS staff presented the Air Tractor AT-802F Attack Firefighter. Compared to our familiar CAP Cessna fleet, this is a large aircraft, with a 1,600 HP P&W PT6A turbine engine and a maximum gross weight of 16,000 pounds. With a different setup, this airplane is also used often in agricultural spraying. Hopper capacity for the firefighter is 820 gallons of suppressant water. The AT-802’s are led into the hot fire by the T-34C to drop fire suppressant mix. A powder called “BlazeTamer” is added to water to make a mix that is much more effective. “It makes the water a lot slicker,” Caison said, “but is perfectly safe for the environment. It puts the fire out much better. Plain water won’t do it,” he said, explaining that it will mostly vaporize because forest fires are so hot. Typical fire missions are a race to dump as much suppressant mix on the hot spots as quickly as possible. Like a NASCAR pit crew, loaders can refill an AT-802 its 820 gallons in as little as a minute and a half, with good hydrant pressure. A key component in the Air Tractor cockpit is high-flow air conditioning. Because the pilots wear helmets, Nomex fire suits and fly above fires, cold air is needed for these missions.
Caison and Perrit both spoke passionately about the problem of drones at a fire scene. If they spot a drone, the NCFS will stop its mission immediately. Besides civilians who want to take a closer look, drone aircraft from emergency services units sometimes get in the way. It is a felony to fly a drone in an actively managed fire zone, they pointed out.
Pilots who come to the service are expected to know how to fly, Caison said, answering the question of a guest. They have to have 1500 hours at a minimum, with significant tailwheel time, as well as instrument and commercial ratings. However, most pilots in the unit end up not maintaining instrument currency, as all flying is visual flight rules (VFR). The training emphasis at NCFS is firefighting.
After guests inspected all of the aircraft, the Air Tractor was filled with water. Caison donned his flight suit and helmet on this hot August day and fired up the turboprop. He made two passes over the field, demonstrating 400-gallon water drops into a wildfire - all without actually starting a fire, of course. Noteworthy to pilots watching were the relatively low and steep turns, typical of firefighting missions. It was an excellent demonstration not only of the aerial capabilities of NCFS firefighting, but also of another important use of air power. The attendees were graciously hosted by the KDPL Airport Manager for a brown bag lunch in their recently constructed General Aviation Terminal Building before departing.
For More Information:
2d Lt Michael Byrd, CAP
E-mail: michael.byrd@ncwgcap.org
