Posted by Jim Barnes (67.119.2.205) on June 28, 2010 at 13:27:05:
In Reply to: posted by FYI on June 20, 2010 at 11:16:58:
Hi Walt,
This is very important information for anyone trying to make aerial firefighting a career.
We need to keep watch on these developments as well as “Project Flame”.
I can think of several reasons not to give the National Guard the entire responsibility for aerial fire suppression but the most obvious is that the Guard aircraft may not be available when they are needed most. A Marine Helicopter Squadron Commander stated it best at one of our safety meetings. He said “we promise to help if were here we just can’t promise to be here”.
Our National Guard and active duty pilots are war fighters. Their future mission requirements are incalculable. The military will never dedicate a unit solely to fire fighting.
The National Guard provides an essential emergency capability but firefighting will always be an avocation for them. When a National emergency requires all military assets to be brought into play we will still need a dedicated force of airtankers and fire fighting helicopters to handle the ever increasing threat of wildland and urban interface fires.
Using the military’s assets to solve the problem of rebuilding our airtanker fleet may seem logical to many. Upon examining the facts the problems associated with following this course will become all too obvious at the worst possible time.
Jim Barnes. .