![]() Navy in 1993, to replace their aging Cessna O-2 Skymasters as air attack aircraft. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF or CALFIRE) acquired a number of OV-10As, including the six surviving aircraft from the BLM and 13 from the U.S. ![]() ![]() CalFire OV10's have also been totally rewired to accommodate up to date avionics and navigation systems, as well as all of the radios required for airtactical control of the fire. There is an additional 125 gallon fuel tank in the cargo bay, allowing us to stay over a fire for over 5 hours. Current CalFire aircraft have had all of the armor and weapon systems removed. It could carry up to three tons of external munitions and easily loiter for three hours. It was developed in the 1960s as a special aircraft for COIN (counter insurgency) combat and one of its primary missions was a forward air control (FAC) aircraft. The North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is a turboprop-driven light attack and observation aircraft. CAL FIRE has 23 S-2T airtankers, one of which is in Sacramento at CAL FIRE’s Aviation Management Unit (AMU) as maintenance relief - Tanker 100. The final three S-2Ts were completed and delivered in 2005. The completely reconditioned S-2Ts are faster, safer, more maneuverable and carry a larger retardant payload than the original S-2A airtankers CAL FIRE had used since the 1970s. Marsh Aviation converted the planes to a firefighting configuration and were retrofitted with modern, powerful turboprop engines. In 1996, CAL FIRE acquired 26 S-2E/G planes from the Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program. These airtankers are strategically located throughout California and can respond to the most remote State Responsibility Areas (SRA) within approximately 20 minutes. The CAL FIRE S-2T airtankers set the standard for initial attack to deliver fire retardant on wildland fires. Retardant Payload: Up to 1,200 gallons (1,000 gals standard for IA)Įngines: Two 1,650 horsepower turbine engines Personnel assigned to the base include one Battalion Chief, two Fire Captains, one Fire Apparatus Engineer, seven Firefighters, two contract Pilots, and one contract aircraft mechanic.MISSION: CAL FIRE uses the S-2T airtankers for fast initial attack delivery of fire retardant on wildland fires. Due to the long runway at Chico Airport, CAAB can service and support most of the large air tankers currently in use, and during major fires, it is not uncommon to see as many as seven air tankers moving through the pits at CAAB. CAAB can supply up to 100,000 gallons of fire retardant per day. The OV-10A acts in a command and control fashion, to coordinate the S2T with additional aircraft from other CAL FIRE air attack bases.Īny air tanker landing at CAAB can load with retardant in one of three-drive through pits, and within minutes be filled with fire retardant. The S2T is capable of hauling 1,200 gallons of fire retardant and provides fast, aggressive initial attack to help CAL FIRE attain its goal of stopping 95% of all vegetation fires at 10 acres or less. Air Attack Base 2015 Year in Review (PDF)īuilt in 1969, Chico Air Attack Base (CAAB) is home to an OV-10A Air Attack and an S2T Air Tanker.Air Attack Base Renewed for 25 More Years (PDF).Meet Shem Hawkins, Battalion Chief, Air Attack Base.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |