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Erickson Aero Tanker, 2050 Northeast 25th Avenue, Hillsboro, OR, 97124 (503) 640-3711 eatanker@aeroair.com. Now retired from the U.S. Forest Service, he traveled to Chile to provide lead plane services for the huge aircraft operated by Global SuperTankers. The U.S. Forest Service, the largest federal. Tweed New Haven Airport draft Environmental Assessment March 2023 All MAFFS units are requested through the commander of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) to provide support to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in conducting wildland fire fighting operations within the United States. Name Title . Q. The Forest Service uses a variety of aircraft and helicopters to help manage wildfires. Public Affairs for the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Their Fire and Aviation Management division owns and contracts aircraft primarily for wildfires, but also responds to incidents including floods, hurricanes and other disasters. My job is about efficiency and safety. In this capacity, he acts as a sort of forward operator, directing other fire fighting aircraft where to drop fire retardant. Some of the Sherpas will be flown by agency personnel and others by contractors. The Interagency Aviation Training (IAT) Education, Qualification, and Currency System contains established aviation training standards and records for natural resource and firefighting employees within the US Department of the Interior (DOI), USDA-Forest Service (USDA-FS) and recognized partners. The beauty of ICS is that the command staff, among so many other roles, does not need to be agency-specific at all. Find the perfect pilot upgrade training stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. To meet this commitment, we continue to monitor and update our content to make sure our documents meet these standards. `_?^>l|_?_/>o_O_ "Ws/.Z+/hw?(^R2e7nYt} ^>f6,(p+4]yLz/cwK_"5JeD .BVu#:MW[' It's used here as primary tactical on the Highway 166 corridor where San Luis Obispo County Fire/Santa Barbara County Fire, and USFS all have adjoining/overlapping service areas. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. They own a 1990 King Air B200 as a firefighting aircraft and are in the process of purchasing a second King Air B200. . I think it is because there are enough ASM qualified ATGS on the Forest Service side of things. Different parts of the west have the peak of their fire seasons at different times of the year, said Don Bell, Flight Operations manager for BLM. Qu khch hng c nhu cu xin lin h s Hotline hoc n ca hng c t vn trc tip. stream Lead planes have only one pilot on board who is experienced in flying over fires in mountainous terrain. ne purchased since the early 1980s when the Forest Service acquired over 20 Beechcraft Baron Aircraft for lead planes. The USFS aircraft he flies are equipped with airshow smoke and Delmonte will inject this into the engine over the drop site to show the other aircraft precisely where he wants fire retardant dropped. Aircraft: De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter; Serial #: 803; Photo date: 2021-06-14; Uploaded: 2021-09-28; . The ATGS coordinates all aircraft in the airspace above a wildland fire. Inspection Forms. No credit for other stuff. By parachuting in, self-sufficient firefighters could arrive fresh and ready for the strenuous work of fighting fires in rugged terrain. One of the victims was identified as Fire Chief Jeff Piechura, 62, and the other was 48-year-old pilot Matthew Miller. I also get to fly a King Air, which was not designed to fly in the environment we fly in, it was made as a commuter jet, so thats interesting. Then, after the 22 aircraft are completely up and running, managing the programs on a continuing basis is not simply a part time job for one person. All rights reserved. Aircraft types: Bombardier CL-415 and Air Tractor Fire Boss. Click here. Each of the aircraft can carry eight to ten Smokejumpers and their initial supply of gear. Once I come off the run I watch the retardant fall. usfs lead plane pilotemn meaning medical. The aircraft has 14,000 total hours, including about 670 hours BLM flew over the first two seasons of operating it. Q. Home. -Wayne Grieff, SEAT Pilot . If you dont have time to see the entire video, start at 15:30 where Jamie describes the benefits of having a lead plane work with an air tanker. The aircraft are based in eight cities but move frequently because they are national shared resources. Yesterday we wrote about the Bureau of Land Managements fleet of lead planes and Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) aircraft. It looks like nothing was found at this location. He said flying passenger jets lacked purpose for him, since he was used to flying tactical missions on active duty. Early on, fleets of surplus military aircraft, such as Grumman S-2 Trackers, Consolidated B-24 Liberators, and Douglas DC-3s and DC-4s, were reconfigured to drop retardant on fires. Im generally 1,000 feet AGL around the fire or lower. Over the past two and a half months, Delmonte has flown 51 missions, in seven states, on 29 different fires; and the season isn't over yet. pizza dough recipe like costco Unlike traditional Reservists, who are assigned to Reserve units that regularly perform duty together, IMAs work with their active-duty supervisors to create a custom duty schedule that helps their unit meet mission requirements. The pilots are using all their knowledge, their previous experience, and all that culminates to them pushing the button. Aerial supervision module/lead plane pilots and/or air tactical supervisors communicate with firefighters on the ground, other fire aircraft, and airtanker pilots. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft including Beechcraft King Air 90 and 200 aircraft are critical tools in protecting lives, property and valuable natural and cultural resources from wildfires. Military flight crews spent the week training with their civilian counterparts in preparation for the upcoming wildland firefighting season. juni 14, 2022; Posted by tui name change lead passenger; 14 . I get to go work with DC-10s, MD-87s, air tractors, C-130s, all kinds of different helicopters, in a very tight airspaceits all in a different changing environmentand I get to use my airplane to help. Global SuperTanker Services employs four pilots to operate its 747, the worlds largest air tanker. Aircraft types: P2V, HC-130H, BAe-146, MD-87, C-130Q, RJ85, C-130 H & J equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS). Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. Very Large Airtankers (VLATs) are capable of delivering over 8,000 gallons of fire retardant to support firefighters on the ground. However, when he was promoted to colonel last year, he had to find a new, non-flying position. It could be from here to SoCal. An official website of the United States government. Lead 6-5 flying into a smoky Ferguson Canyon on the Whoopup Fire in South Dakota, July 18, 2011. A: To me, its super unique, in that one second youre sitting here in Boise, like today, and dispatch could call and say, Hey, were sending over a resource order. We print out a piece of paper and its got the name of the fire, its coordinates, and frequenciesand we get in the plane and go. While the majority of wildland fires occur in the western U.S., NIFC serves the entire country and in the past year has responded to major fires in Tennessee, Kansas and Oklahoma. 7o. | Jun 10, 2022 | dcps admin wifi password | what is an advantage of modern synthetic pesticides? Smokejumpers work from about June 1 through October. FAQ. Before the aircraft and pilot can be used for a specific mission, the aircraft must be specifically listed on a valid and current contract for the type of work being performed. Then, we create checkpoints and routes to clear the flight paths of different aircraft away from one another. All of the USFS lead planes will be able to produce smoke to mark the targets for the air tankers. These small airplanes can reload and operate in areas where larger airtankers cannot. Hes currently working 12 days on, two off, and has fought fires in Montana, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. A little later in the summer we usually move up into the Pacific Northwest and Montana. The tactical supervisor joins the lead plane pilot. At the age of 75, Barr continued to fly for pleasure. I think youve hit on one of the inherent problems with our qualification system. The Forest Service uses airplanes for a wide variety of other missions in managing public lands. Aerial supervision module/lead plane pilots and/or air tactical supervisors communicate with firefighters on the ground, other fire aircraft, and airtanker pilots. Federal agencies employ some aerial firefighter pilots, but most work under seasonal contracts for companies the agencies hire for fire protection. He had his family, so he continued to fly to minimize the loss of more homes. Fixed-wing aircraft used in wildland firefighting fill the roles of lead planes, smokejumper aircraft, air tactical platforms and airtankers (see sidebar for descriptions of these roles). Aircraft types:Twin Commander 500 and 600 are most common. Planes and helicopters are critical tools in managing wildland fire. Example aircraft types: Beechcraft King Air 90 and 200. King Airs Guide Airtankers in Wildland Firefighting. Pilot backgrounds are diverse, including military, bush and airline flying, but tailwheel and low-level flying experience the latter over terrain are typical requisites. The industry is moving toward full-time [employment], with schedules of time on and off on a year-round basis.. 2022-10-03 BLM awards contract for first jet-powered lead plane in the U.S. More details about the voice cast for Planes: Fire and Rescue, Lockheed looks ahead to advancing capability in wildland firefighting, Aerial Firefighters Association to promote safety, standards, innovation, Coulson tanker down in Western Australia, pilots okay, Helicopter crash kills 2 in Chilean fires. %PDF-1.7 How long have you been a lead plane pilot? The USFS is not requiring their C-130 pilots to be "Initial Attack qualified." This limits them to operating only behind a qualified USFS Lead Planes. Col. Paul Buster Delmonte is an aerial firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service as a civilian. Five of the seven have to go through a 10-month wing box replacement, and then the rest of the conversion process can begin, including cutting a hole in the belly and installing a retardant tank system. Bill was also a MAFFS (Military Airborne Firefighting System) instructor for the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserves. In a typical mission, Delmonte will fly one of three airframes, a C90 King Air, DHC-6 Twin Otter or a DC-3, to about 100 feet above tree level, scouting for the best target. When the airtanker comes on scene, Ill go out and join up with the tanker, Ill describe the drop and then they follow me around and I get them on line. The award is given to those who went above and beyond their scope of duty to perform an act of service of rare or exceptional character that reflects an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others. Posted 9:58:48 PM. A pilot for most of her life, she eventually became the first lead pilot for the US Forest Service fighting fires from the sky. Although aircraft are often used to fight wildfires, aircraft alone cannot put them out. We do that through flying a more nimble aircraft and being on-scene throughout the mission, so that we can observe the conditions as they change. He has worked off and on with the 747 air tankers since Evergreen converted the first one. With no standard training program for the profession, one career path into the hot zone is serving as a pilot in an observation aircraft, then transitioning into a SEAT or the right seat of a larger tanker. Chp hnh Ngh nh s 105/2017/N-CP ca Chnh ph v lut qung co s 16/2012/QH13 v kinh doanh v bn hng qua mng. The lead planes are Beechcraft King Air 90GTs, all supplied by the Greenwood Corporation, while the ATGS aircraft areCessna 337 Skymasters and reciprocal and turbine engine twin Commanders. Without a lead plane, tanker pilots would have to circle the fire themselves, avoiding . Mary flew for the USFS as a lead plane pilot before moving to the Regional Office in San Francisco as Aviation Safety Officer. Aircraft types: Cessna 206, Aero Commander 500, King Air 200, DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver, Piper Super Cub, and Cessna 185. https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/planes, Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS). Theyre always judging and trying to figure out, Did I push that button in the right place? or, Did I put my airplane in the right place? If we sugar coat the drop, were not helping. Not wanting to give up serving his country, Delmonte turned to the Individual Reserve to continue his career. We do two of the four phases of inspection so that we can try to get ahead of the maintenance and not have a bunch of downtime right in the middle of fire season.. Air Tactical Group Supervisor or Air Attack planes provide coordination of aerial resources over a wildland fire. The exit is probably the most important part of the drop and the easiest to forget about. LockA locked padlock Lake Tahoe USFS's Tweets. The U.S. Forest Service had estimated there were as many as 150 of the unauthorized cows in an area along the Gila River. First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), USNORTHCOMs Air Component Command, is the DoDs operational lead for the aerial military efforts. Back To Top. Enterprise. Yes! We try to give them honest feedback. usfs lead plane pilot. The next opportunity for the USFS to acquire jet-powered lead planes will be in 2015 when the contracts are re-issued. I make sure we dont have a lot of down air or too much turbulence, check visibility, go down and look for towers and wires, and then figure out exit routes for the tanker because we are generally operating in mountainous terrain. Lewiston, ID $100,000 - $150,000. endobj In spite of these challenges the personnel working with the 747 and the other aircraft developed procedures to fight the fires from the air, while the local firefighters improvised a system on the ground for refilling the 747 and the IL-76 with water. Lead planes have only one pilot on board who is experienced in flying over fires in mountainous terrain. The aircraft has fully operational dual controls in its dual cockpit configuration. Now, as the Air Force Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) to Utah, I'm very fortunate to take what I've learned from the Forest Service and provide that perspective back to Defense Support of Civil Authorities," he said. Contact Us: NWCG Comments & Questions | USA.GOV | Notices | Accessibility | Copyrights | Linking Policy | Records Management | FAQs, National Aerial Supervision Training Academy Unit, N-9065 National Interagency Leadplane Pilot Training Course, M-581, Fire Program Management Course Steering Committee, M-582, AA Advanced Wildland Fire Course Steering Committee, Committee Roles and Membership Information, Course Steering Committee Guidance & Templates, International Association of Fire Chiefs Roster, National Association of State Foresters Roster, Alternative Pathways to NWCG Qualification, Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program, National Interagency Leadplane Pilot Training Course N-9065, Leadplane Phase 3 Mission Evaluation and Final Evaluation Check Ride, Presentation: Leadplane Training Course Presentation (01-01-N9065-PPT), NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505, 12 Standard Aviation Questions That Shout Watch Out (01-01-N9065-HO), Presentation: Target Descriptions (02-01-N9065-PPT), Presentation: Communications Within The Pattern (02-02-N9065-PPT), Mountain Flying and Weather (03-01-N9065-HO), Single Pilot Resource Management (04-02-N9065-HO), Aircraft Preflight and Set Up (04-03-N9065-HO), In Route and Time Management(05-01-N9065-HO), Presentation: Leadplane Flight Profile and Exit Maneuver (07-01-N9065-PPT), LeadplaneProfile and Exit Maneuver (07-04-N9065-HO), Leadplane Mission Emergency Procedures (07-05-N9065-HO), Responsibility for Separation (09-01-N9065-HO), Presentation: Aircraft Sequencing (12-01-N9065-PPT), Southern California Endorsement (12-08-N9065-HO), Retardant Foam and Water Enhancers (12-09-N9065-HO), Leadplane Pilot Training Evaluation Form (14-01-N9065-HO). All of the USFS lead planes will be able to produce smoke to mark the targets for the air tankers. Maybe try one of the links below or a search? Their Fire and Aviation Management division owns and contracts aircraft primarily for wildfires, but also responds to incidents including floods, hurricanes and other disasters. uA]g)8vv7/u~j U:!D!:m>=Mt]%uL[+u~V{[_lPIM~~vb2i>_dRi~+?vTVQ}wN9u4~#||5]T={v0QxYGu?&U#nj[v,q>ec+hL +t:\bP|~Y|w/Qo?]i:`f{t1 These missions include forest health and wildlife surveys, law enforcement, gathering infrared data, fire detection, and transporting personnel and cargo. Once he has identified that, he returns to the tankers, which are in a holding pattern, and leads them, one-by-one, into the blaze. The BLM recently awarded a contract for the first jet-powered lead plane, one that has a better chance of keeping up with the next-generation air tankers, including theDC-10s, BAe-146s, and MD-87s. The State of Georgia Forestry Commission recently purchased two, How To Prepare for Your First Airline Training Program, Women in Aviation Conference Returns to Long Beach for 2023, Networking Strategies That Will Get You Noticed by the Airlines, Turboprop Upgrades: Blackhawks King Air 350 Engine Mod Wins Conversion Converts, How to Become a Corporate Aviation Maintenance Technician, How to Become a Repair and Test Technician, How to Become a Payload Integration Specialist. Water Scoopers are amphibious aircraft that skim the surface of a body of water and scoop water into an onboard tank and then release it on a fire. Must be a Paid Member or a Free Trial Member to Access Content. The National Defense Authorization Act required the transfer of the C-130Hs plus 15 Shorts C-23B Sherpas from the military. are bellagio fountains open Uncategorized usfs lead plane pilot. I also have to be constantly looking for wires, towers, and where there is lower terrain. Over the past two and a half months, Delmonte has flown 51 missions, in seven states, on 29 different fires; and the season isnt over yet. TheAir Attackaircraft will carry the pilot and theATGSto be the eyes in the sky.Air attack assists with locating the fire and access points for ground crews, retardant deployment, and performs aerial reconnaissance of the overall incident. Chile has no infrastructure for supervising, using, or refilling large or very large air tankers and they were unfamiliar with the concept of lead planes. usfs lead plane pilot. The average annual salary range for a Forest Service pilot is $73,600 to $113,800. Firefighters rely on planes and helicopters to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/aviation, Aerial Firefighting Use and Effectiveness Study (AFUE), Forest Health Protection Aviation Program. BLM has started to combine the two missions on one aircraft with what they call an aerial supervision module. I try to always make a left-hand turn so that I can see the drop point easier. There is a critical shortage oflead plane pilots and he had every reason to forgo his duties and focus on his personal situation. They release white smoke to show airtanker pilots where to drop fire retardant. Several air tanker pilots stated that for a while they had no idea Mr. Spliefthof lost his home because he was professional and never missed a beat. We help the tankers get on to the line and coordinate the resources so were using them efficiently and effectively. Until this year, the Forest Service had been using King Air 90s for its lead planes. Credit Solution Experts Incorporated offers quality business credit building services, which includes an easy step-by-step system designed for helping clients build their business credit effortlessly. For safety, there is always a spotter on board communicating essential information about the wind, fire activity and terrain to the pilot and the jumpers. How to Become an Aerial Firefighter Pilot. 16.8K Followers. BLM started flying the 1990 King Air B200 in 2015 after acquiring it through an interagency transfer from the Bureau of Reclamation. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) manages and protects 154 national forests and 20 grasslands in 43 states and Puerto Rico. The Spliefthofs had nothing but the clothes on their backs. Initially bringing the 22 aircraft into the agency will be extremely complex and time-consuming, with FAA approvals, inspections, evaluating, painting, writing then awarding contracts for maintenance and pilots, deciding on a tanking system, contracts for installing tanking systems, avionics, etc. It returned on February 13 after dropping on many wildfires in the South American country, making as many as seven sorties in a day each with19,200 gallons of water enhanced with an additive to help make the water more effective, since long-term retardant was not available. Cart. BLM uses their King Airs for two missions: lead plane and air tactical, also known as air attack. Create an account. Experienced air transport market analyst . It does require a natural ability at flying the airplane, says Cliff Hale, chief pilot and vice president of flight operations at Global SuperTanker Services. These tanker crews lack the experience and qualification to take independent action on an imminent threat to life and property. He said he flies in over a scene, works with the ground commander to figure out what the priorities are, then connects with the tankers or helicopters and leads them onto the targets and de-conflicts the air traffic for safety. His position with the Forest Service is analogous to an airborne forward air controller, said Delmonte. The smokejumper program began in 1939 as an experiment in the Pacific Northwest and the first fire jump was made in 1940 on Idahos Nez Perce National Forest. Large Airtankers can deliver from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons of fire retardant to support firefighters on the ground. Fire fighting tools, food and water are dropped by parachute to the firefighters after they land near the fire, making them self-sufficient for the first 48 hours. Fire officials on Sunday identified two people killed in a plane crash over the weekend while monitoring the Cedar Basin Fire near Wikieup in Mohave County. LEAD/ASM STATUS EVALUATOR WORKSHOP MAFFS RECURRENT TRAINING AIRCRAFT Region 1 Kevin Meekin 1-2 L-M-A-E 2020 2020 King Air 90/200 Dolan McDonald 1 -4 L M A E 2020 2018 King Air 90/200 Dustin Smith 1-6 T . Her job fighting . In 2022, the N.C. Forest Service responded to nearly 6,400 wildfires that scorched more than 27,000 acres. The National Park Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs joined them in the mid-1970s, then the U.S. ng nhp. 3515 S. Airport Rd USFS photo by Paul Wade. On December 12 David Spliethof received a 2018 Regional Foresters Honor Award for the work he did on the fire. The average annual salary range for a Forest Service pilot is $73,600 to $113,800. For 24 years, the Air Force trained and provided me with a world class tactical aviation foundation that I've been able to leverage in the complex wildland fire airborne environment. The King Air is a very capable and pilot-friendly aircraft, which is important when youre flying at a lower level in mountainous terrain. Greenwood Group is purchasing existing available B200 aircraft and modifying them to meet the USFS contract specifications. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. Fire season, typically early April to mid-October, is getting longer each year and some of the fires are more intense. endobj usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2022csusm academic advising email. Toggle Dyslexia-friendly black-on-creme color scheme, Military aircraft equipped with MAFFS mobilized to assist with wildfire suppression efforts, First Annual National Wildland Firefighter Day Announced, BLM and Maverik Partner to Reduce Human-Caused Wildfires, Aerial wildland fire training taking place in Boise april 25-29, Andrus Center for Public Policy and Partners Seek National Student Congress Address Wildland Fire Management, Military Personnel Released from Wildfire Support Deployment, National Interagency Incident Communications Division, National Incident Management Organization. Don't forget LPF has their Fire Camp Service Net repeaters as well Paysonscanner Active Member Joined This timehe had adifferent role, or at least a different platform,flying ahead of the air tanker as usual but in an aircraft flown by military pilots. 3 0 obj Lisa Allen, lead plane pilot with the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), explains the role of a lead plane pilot during aerial firefighting operations during MAFFS (Modular Airborne. It is in the Operations area that a background in the specific type of event becomes more important. He is a lead plane pilot, escorting other aircraft, including the Air Force's firefighting-equipped C-130s, in and out of target drop zones. While we dont have hard figures on their ranks or the number of jobs that exist, demand for aerial firefighter pilots is increasing, industry experts say. 4 0 obj Typos, let us know, and please keep in mind the commenting ground rules before you post a comment. Currently, Aero-Flite is using Ansett Aviation's Level-D, EASA certified simulator in Malpensa, Italy. We generally start out in the southwest and Texas in the April-May timeframe and then as the monsoons hit in early July, well move up into the Great Basin: Colorado, Nevada and southern Idaho. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1979. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) manages and protects 154 national forests and 20 grasslands in 43 states and Puerto Rico. Contact Us. In 1964, Barr became one of the first four women to compete in the Reno Air Races. We just fly to wherever the fires are. He was furloughed by his civilian airline after the attacks on 9/11 sent the company into bankruptcy. A big part of my job is scouting the exit. The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) released the list of provisionally selected waitlisted candidates for the post of RRB ALP (Assitant Loco Pilot) on 29th June 2022. This is a phased in approach, and by July we should have eight B200s operational along with seven 90s.. Airline Transport Pilot, and Flight instructor by the FAA. She relied on adamantine nerves and decades of flying experience as the first woman lead pilot for the U.S. Forest Service. In fact, operators are having a lot of trouble filling positions, with retirements creating vacancies and brisk airline hiring draining the already-small applicant pool for aviation firefighters, the former Coast Guard and ag pilot says. Col. Paul "Buster" Delmonte, the Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer for Utah, is a lead plane pilot for the U.S. National Forest Service. I didnt realize there was another venue that was mission oriented, he said. Lightboxes. "She said that pilots were the rock stars when she was growing up," Nevada Barr . I started officially training as a lead plane pilot in 2018. Used as a lead in for firefighter planes to drop fire retardant on forest fires. Q. on Interview with lead plane pilot Jamie Tackman about the 747 air tanker, on Paint design approved for USFS C-130H air tankers, Interview with Lead Plane pilot Lisa Allen, Forest Service buys its first lead plane in almost 40 years, Lead plane pilot honored for working despite losing his home in fire, Interview with lead plane pilot Jamie Tackman about the 747 air tanker, Paint design approved for USFS C-130H air tankers, Lockheed looks ahead to advancing capability in wildland firefighting, Aerial Firefighters Association to promote safety, standards, innovation, Coulson tanker down in Western Australia, pilots okay, Helicopter crash kills 2 in Chilean fires. Since large airtankers are not as maneuverable, lead planes are usually paired up with large airtankers, and are required to be with VLATs and the MAFFS. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Like the BLM, the Forest Service is starting to combine the missions on one aircraft, with an air tactical supervisor and an agency pilot on board. If someone is restoring an automobile that is at least 27 years old, as these C-130Hs are according to our research, paint is the very last step in the process. x}]"wbJ=KG3)a4Ko +qu/'bh@W_?^\/O?i.eZ-O?? WIKIEUP, Ariz. - Two firefighters died in an aviation accident after their. Today the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), still based in Boise, Idaho, is the command hub for the nations response to wildfires.