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Air Force Reserve aircrews, maintainers gear up for wildfire season

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
TUCSON, Ariz. --  Air Force reservists are used to volunteering to help others, especially when it means saving the lives and property of fellow Americans from the fury of Mother Nature.

That's why reservists from the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., joined their counterparts in the Air National Guard May 3-9 to certify on the nation's premiere aerial firefighting system: the Military Airborne Fire Fighting System.

C-130 Hercules aircrews flew MAFFS training missions from the Tucson International Airport from sun up to sundown to finalize their annual certification by the U.S. Forest Service. The certification ensures they are ready to go if called to fight wildfires.

"It's a very challenging mission that makes you feel good, like you've really made a difference at the end of the day," said Maj. Michael Savage, 731st Airlift Squadron instructor pilot and a MAFFS flyer for seven years. "This is my favorite mission for many reasons. It gives us the opportunity to directly support our own people in our own backyard."

Each year, the Air Force Reserve wing and the ANG's three airlift wings that support the MAFFS mission trade leadership roles of MAFFS activations as well as the certification week. By rotating the schedule, the wings have the flexibility to fly MAFFS missions while supporting deployments such as Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

This year, the ANG's 153rd AW, based out of Cheyenne, Wyo., takes the lead.

If the fire season heats up, California's ANG unit, the 146th AW at Channel Islands, will re-designate as the 146th Air Expeditionary Group. The re-designation allows the Air Force to give the 146th the lead on operations, with the other units falling under its leadership umbrella.

Aircrews and aircraft maintainers perform the certification annually at the request of the Forest Service. Maintenance Airmen and civilians ensure the C-130s are in top-notch condition before a mission.

When it comes to the MAFFS, the Forest Service retains ownership of the systems, servicing them continually, especially during the drier seasons. The military units ensure their people are ready to fly them.

"The Forest Service and the Air Force have been doing this mission together for 39 years, and that's a fairly sizable time frame to be involved in something," said Lynn Ballard, MAFFS 2009 training and certification fire information officer.

"There are contract air tankers out there, and in recent years the fleet has been reduced due to the age of their fleet," he said. "The Air Force Reserve has some aircraft, and they have the ability to support this surge when they need it. They also have the personnel to operate the equipment and the folks who maintain the aircraft have the ability to support the mission as well. Equipment and personnel are two key ingredients to support this mission."

The Air Force brings a "surge capability" when the civilian aerial firefighting fleet just isn't enough, said Mr. Ballard, who has 10 years experience with the MAFFS mission.

"Equipment and personnel are two key ingredients to support this mission," he said. "People don't have to do this job; they want to do the job of aerial firefighting."

With temperatures hovered around 100 degrees Fahrenheit daily during this year's certification, the aircraft maintainers kept working as much as 14 hours a day.

"Kudos to the men and women from the 302nd Maintenance Group and Logistics Readiness Squadron," said Chief Master Sgt. Mike Sanchez, 302nd MXG superintendent. "They provided ready aircraft daily for aircrews to accomplish their annual MAFFS certification."

Chief Sanchez is responsible for getting his people to their forward operating location and ensuring they are ready to work.

"You have to take care of your Airmen to maintain the aircraft," he said. "The last thing they need to worry about is where to eat and where they'll sleep. I take care of those details, so they can concentrate on their jobs."

Receiving thanks from the public is one of the most rewarding aspects of the MAFFS mission, according to Mr. Ballard.

"There's been times when an aircraft has come back from a fire and one load put it out ... that's certainly memorable," Mr. Ballard said "But when the public comes forward and thanks you for the job you do, those moments are always rewarding. I think the public really appreciates the [MAFFS] help. It's kind of like watching the cavalry showing up." (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)