Firefighting Airplanes

[big dog1]

Im looking for a web siteand how to get a job flying Firefighting Airplanes thanks

 

[bart]

I would PM avbug...

doubt anyone else here knows as much as him.

 

[EagleRJ]

I think a lot of the aircraft are owned and operated by Hawkins and Powers Aviation. You might send them a resume.

http://www.hawkinsandpowers.com/

 

[avbug]

H&P lost most (eight) of their aircraft last year. You'll need to stand in line about 20 years before you get on there.

I'm on the road right now, and don't have the URL off the top of my head, but you can visit the sites for the Aerial Firefighting Industry Association (AFIA), or the Associated Airtanker Pilot Association web sites. Type those into your search engine, and you'll get all the info you need.

Bear in mind that where minimum times will be published, these aren't realistic for what you'll need to get hired.

While not absolutely necessary, you should plan on having your mechanic certificate, with both airframe and powerplant ratings. You should be capable of doing the work, too...not just the holder of a paper certificate. You should also have your own tools.

A background in ag flying is helpful, as is some fire experience.

What are your qualifications, and why do you want to do it?

 

[LAZYB]

Firefighting pilots

 

[Phrogs4ever]

Also, there are two National Guard units who have Aerial firefighting listed as one of their missions. Both units fly a version of the C-130. I know one is in California, don't know where the other is. If you're really driven to fight fires from the air, this is another option.

 

[414Flyer]

Its not a job you will just get my emailing and faxing a resume, then they call you up.

It is a small community, with a lot of people that send in resumes trying to get into it. But to get a job in it, you will have to talk to those companies "face to face" and give them a reason to hire you.

A&P is extremely attractive to them. Its not impossible to get on without it, but one is at a disadvantage.

Doing more to educate yourself about wildland firefighting is a good idea. Doing the basic classes to be certified gives you fair amount of knowledge that you would not have had otherwise, and does show some motivation to learn about wildland fire. Some fire departments and community colleges give it for really cheap. I did mine at the Colorado Wildfire Academy in Alamosa.

I spent last summer on an engine crew to increase my qualifications and knowledge. Even though it was a ground pounder job, I learned quite a bit from it. Volunteer fire department is not a bad idea either, if you are serious about getting into fire supression.

Finding an air attack/recon summer flying job is a good way to get experience also that will carry over into tanker flying.

I do not have an A&P, but I do have a summer as air attack, have taken wildland fire courses, am taking fire science classes, and have a summer as a wildland firefighter.

Turns out one company tried to contact me this summer, but lost my resume...arrggghhh

 

[avbug]

The other MAFFS-Qualified unit is in Cheyenne, WY.

 

[Skyrunner]

MAFFS

4 mil units are trained in MAFFS

Channel Islands ANG - aka Hollywood Guard C-130E/Js
Wyoming ANG - Cheyenne H3s
North Carolina ANG - Charlotte H3s
Colo Springs Reserves - Pete Field H3s

Adios,

SR

I think all of the civ C-130s that fight fires are grounded.
H&P - Greybull, WY
Intl Air Response - Chandler, AZ
These are the companies I know of that flew 130s

 

[avbug]

You forgot Butler.

IAR's aren't grounded...just operating outside the United States.

The airplanes were grounded by the USFS as the primary contractor. USFS doesn't have authority beyond not allowing them to fly on USFS contracts (technically, USFS holds the "title" to these aircraft, as it was transferred in 1998 from DoD). Therefore, external operations are now being conducted and being considered.

After all, their true role never was firefighting...