2011 aerial firefighting certification week a success; crews, systems ready for fire season

  • Published
  • By Capt. Corinna Jones
  • 302nd Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
GOWEN FIELD, Idaho --  As the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group wraps up another annual Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System certification week they head home hoping the training is precautionary, but ready if the U.S. Forest Service needs them.

"We are at the whim of Mother Nature and always have to be ready," said Lt. Col. David Condit, director of the Air Force Reserve Command's aerial firefighting program and the 302nd AEG deputy commander. "And if the need arises, we are ready."

Reservists from the 302nd Airlift Wing, based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and Air National Guard members from the 145th AW, North Carolina, 146th AW, California and 153rd AW Wyoming, spent the past week receiving initial and re-currency training to safely and effectively fly and operate the MAFFS-equipped C-130s. The annual certification is required by the U.S. Forest Service prior to fire season.

Over the course of certification week, the 302nd AEG completed 67 sorties, flew more than 70 hours and performed over 200 airdrops.

"The main purpose of this week is to get qualified and receive training," said Lt. Col. Steven Coppa, the 302 AEG MAFFS mission commander. "Everyone staged here is undergoing some sort of training, including me as a mission commander."

Colonel Coppa said more than 200 Guard and Reserve members participated in the certification week and all MAFFS C-130 flying units are now qualified on MAFFS II. Different from the legacy MAFFS system which was used from the early 1970's until 2010, MAFFS II is a self-contained aerial firefighting system, which can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 60 feet. Once the load is discharged, a MAFFS unit can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.

According to Colonel Condit, the training ensures they are ready to fly a type of mission that C-130 pilots agree can be more challenging than combat missions.

"We are out just in front of the flames, operating at a very low altitude and under more difficult conditions," he said. "With the heat and the smoke, we really have to be on our game and remain vigilant."

Colonel Condit said though firefighting is challenging, the work is very gratifying.

This is a mission where we are helping in our own back yard," he said. "We are never short on volunteers."

And though many may be called, few are chosen. Colonel Condit said those who fly the MAFFS mission and maintain the system and aircraft are selected from the best within their units.

This year, the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group's MAFFS-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft were operating on two fronts after wildfires broke out in Texas just before the annual certification training began in Idaho. The Group has had four aircraft operating out of Dyess Air Force Base, Texas since April 17.

The four MAFFS aircraft and personnel staged in Texas returned to their home stations on May 6. The four MAFFS aircraft and personnel staged at Gowen Field, Idaho complete training today and will return to their home stations throughout the weekend.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, next year's training is scheduled to take place at each unit's home station. This is a change from years past when all four of the military MAFFS units train together at one location.