Air Force, Forest Service train for wildland fire season

Published April 25, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Residents in the remote mountainous areas near the Pike San Isabel National Forest received a spectacular view of the underbelly of low-flying Air Force Reserve C-130s equipped with the U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System.

In preparation for the upcoming 2012 wildland firefighting season, the Forest Service and Reservists from the 302nd Airlift Wing held their annual Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems re-certification and training here April 20 - 23.

Wildland firefighting certification involved 12 hours of ground and classroom training and 35 C-130 MAFFS missions. C-130s departed Peterson AFB nearly every hour during daylight heading west to the Pike San Isabel National Forest. With each mission, another aircrew received highly specialized, critical training in sighting and flying with a Forest Service lead aircraft, flying at the required low altitudes to drop water on targets. Forest Service crews also practiced ground procedures to rapidly reload MAFFS units with water.

During this year's certification, 12 Air Force Reserve aircrew members received initial certification and 48 received refresher MAFFS training. Because of the extreme challenges presented by flying slow, low and heavy, only the most experienced C-130 aircrews train for this mission.

"These are really experienced pilots, many with thousands of flying hours. But this isn't the typical mission they've flown throughout their careers. They really need to practice and re-certify every year," said Lt. Col. David Condit, Air Force Reserve chief of aerial firefighting and 731st Airlift Squadron C-130 instructor and evaluator navigator.

In past years, MAFFS training was performed in a central location, with each of the four countrywide MAFFS units (three Air National Guard and one Air Force Reserve) traveling for training and re-certification.

"Usually we have an annual briefing that brings all four of the MAFFS units in the United States together. This year we are doing 'mini' MAFFS, to save money. We are doing the training at a local level," said Lynn Ballard, Forest Service senior military liaison.

According to Forest Service statistics, on average there are 78,000 fires throughout the United States each year, burning approximately 6.5 million acres.

"Air tankers including MAFFS II play a significant role in suppressing 95 percent of wildland fires in the initial attack stage. There is a very low percentage of wild fires that get to the large stage," said Ballard.

Ground crews comprised U.S. Forest Service personnel ensure the portable MAFFS unit, capable of holding 3,000 gallons of retardant [only water is used during training] is fully operational and ready to go when the trigger is squeezed.

Once all systems are set to go, C-130s taxi down the runway with their 42,000 pound payload to deliver retardant on the target. Once on site, the MAFFS-equipped C-130, flying just above stall speed and a mere 150 feet above the ground, follows a Forest Service lead plane that directs the plane where to drop the fire retardant, usually forming a fire line or barrier.

"Annual MAFFS training allows us to stay mission-ready and hit the target at the right time, ensuring our drop is very effective," said Lt. Col. Robert Fairbanks, MAFFS instructor pilot and 302nd Operations Group chief of aircrew standardization and evaluation.

"This year's training couldn't have gone any better, it was some of the best training we've ever had," said Condit.

According to Ballard, MAFFS is one of many tools used by the Forest Service to suppress wildland fires. The Forest Service commander on the ground assesses many factors and makes the determination whether to use ground crews, bulldozers, commercial tankers or MAFFS or a combination of some or all to combat and suppress the wildfire.

The military authority for the MAFFS program was created in the early 1970's to support wildland firefighting through an agreement with the Forest Service. Today, the military aircraft are requested by the National Interagency Fire Center and activated through the U.S. Northern Command, based on an agreement with the Department of Defense. The MAFFS program is now in its 40th season.