Firefighting Pilots

[PropStop]

I've looked around the 'net a bit but haven't found much of substance on how to get into wildland aerial firefighting. Has anyone out there had any experience with this? I'm curious how you get into it - it seems like one of those "who you know" kind of jobs.

 

[phrogdriver]

For the rotor side.

 

[HeyJoe]

I've looked around the 'net a bit but haven't found much of substance on how to get into wildland aerial firefighting. Has anyone out there had any experience with this? I'm curious how you get into it - it seems like one of those "who you know" kind of jobs.

PM me if you want a hookup with "Hoser" vvvv

 

[Brett327]

Here's a start:

http://www.fire.ca.gov/careers_aviation.php
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/aviation/

Brett

 

[Mumbles]

that's a shweet turbostoof pic joe! I think that would be alot of fun.

 

[PropStop]

Lots of really great links. Thanks for the info.

I didn't know the US Forrest Service flew firefighting a/c, i figured they were all contract.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Nice turbo-Stoof pic! That's going in my "bitchin' airplane pictures" file.

From what I've read, there's a mix of contract, Fed (Forest Service/BLM) and State wildfire airplanes. How the mix is mixed depends on the state, size of the fire, etc.

Fire on the Mountain is a great book about a Colorado wildfire in the early '90's that killed several Smokejumpers and Hot Shots - among other things, because the air support was badly mismanaged, at least according to the author. Can't say whether he's right or wrong, but it's an interesting read.

 

[Single Seat]

Google produced this forum:

http://forums.flightinfo.com/forumdisplay.php?f=84

In the mean time you can practice here:

http://www.break.com/index/waterplane.html

arrows for speed/alt and space bar to dump. I suck at it.

 

[FLY_USMC]

A good friend of mine flies firefighting P-2 Neptunes....he didn't know anyone but had the standard that you might expect from such an outfit...2000TT and 1000ME....pretty much what any respectable job is looking for. I even think he said they had little cruise missile jet engines under the wingtips, but don't quote me.

 

[Flugelman]

I even think he said they had little cruise missile jet engines under the wingtips, but don't quote me.

Former USN Lockheed SP-2H (P2V-7) with 2 R-3350 recips and 2 J-34s. Jets were used for takeoff and were normally shutdown inflight, started and idled for landings or emergencies.

 

[ChunksJR]

Get the BAMBI BUCKET and fly with the HIGH ROLLERS!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bc8_1193931274

 

[Recidivist]

CDF (now CalFire) flies OV-10s as well as tankers. The spotters get to do some cool stuff too sometimes. I believe their pilots are contract. There was an article about two to three months back in aopa I think about fire flying.

Helo guys need a lot of time, operating at altitude, slung loads, etc. Seems like a great place to go for ex-military helo guys.

 

[Mumbles]

I've flown into Missoula Montana and seen about half a dozen red and white P-2s sitting on the ramp.

 

[HeyJoe]

Check out Popular Mechanics article on the firefighting aircraft and their pilots

 

[WheelsUpHeelsUp]

Former USN Lockheed SP-2H (P2V-7) with 2 R-3350 recips and 2 J-34s. Jets were used for takeoff and were normally shutdown inflight, started and idled for landings or emergencies.

Sonofabitch, that is pretty!