AF Reserve completes 2010 aerial firefighting certification

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
GREENVILLE, S.C. --  More than 100 Air Force Reservists and Active Duty Airmen from the 302nd Airlift Wing received full certification on the Modular Airborne Firefighting System April 25-May 1 at the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center here.

The 302nd AW members were joined by Air National Guardsmen and U.S. Forest Service personnel as they train and prepare to effectively and safely fight wildland fires this year.

The week-long event incorporated classroom instruction on aerial firefighting procedures, flight techniques to combat wildland fires while flying at low-levels and practice drops over the mountains of North Carolina. The certification is an annual requirement of the U.S. Forest Service.

"Every time we get together like this we learn some new things," said Lt. Col. David Condit, the Air Force Reserve's MAFFS program manager since 2006. "It's been good for the Forest Service and for us to get together and tweak this program to make it just a little better. I see that happening again this year."

Together with C-130 aircrews, teams from the 302nd Maintenance Group also were certified on maintaining and refilling the MAFFS II system. The new system exposed new challenges in MAFFS training, including safe procedures while refilling the next-generation unit and perfecting communication between ground and aircrews.

"We've been going over the safety issues involved with the newer unit," said Staff Sgt. Steven Taylor, an aircraft electrician with the 302nd Maintenance Group who was receiving his MAFFS certification for the first time. "Having to go around to the other side of the aircraft is something new from what I understand. And now we've got to relay signals. Normally the (maintainer) on the nozzle would relay signals back, but since he's on the other side of the plane, we have to have a safety monitor to relay information to the crew over at the water and air (station)."

Along with safety, maintainers also stressed teamwork during the certification process.
"Maintenance-wise, we've really pulled together as a team. We've been launching aircraft as often as they come in here, keeping them going. We're trying to make sure aircrews get qualified so we have enough pilots and folks that can handle the upcoming fire season," said Col. James Van Housen, 302nd Maintenance Group commander.

The MAFFS mission, flown by the 302nd AW and three ANG units, including the 145th AW in Charlotte, N.C.; the 146th AW based out of Channel Islands, Calif.; and the 153rd AW from Cheyenne, Wyo., is also supported by several federal agencies. Since the creation of MAFFS in the 1970s, the program is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

"All of us work together to make this a team MAFFS experience," said Scott Fisher, an aviation management specialist for the U.S. Forest Service, based at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. "We've had a lot of crews that have been able to participate and we've had a lot of folks ... complete their training as well. It's been a good location and a good group that's come prepared."

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