By the time you read this, our nation’s leaders should have made decisions that will shape the future of our economy. Unless they decide to just kick the can down the road again, as they have so often in the past. Whether it is sequestration or budget cuts, the result will have profound effects on the aviation side of wildland firefighting.
Our industry could be facing cuts in federal funding of up to 60 percent. Officials will not simply stop suppression efforts. However, we will see less prevention, boots on the ground, equipment upgrades and aviation contracts.
Over the last decade, the United States Forest Service has budgeted (on average) about eighteen billion dollars a year for firefighting. In most years, they exceed the budget and have to appropriate more funds to finish out the fire season. In this era of mega-fires, it is not unusual to see suppression costs exceed one-hundred million dollars on a single fire.
Aviation assets are the most expensive, but at the same time they supply the best results. No one knows what the future holds, but it will be interesting to see where the policy makers make the cuts.
The bid awards for the next generation heavy air tankers should be any day now. They were set to be awarded in January, but that month came and went with no contracts. I think it will be great to see new blood in the nations air tanker fleet. The BAe-146s I worked with last summer seemed to do a superb job and the pilots raved about the newfound performance they now have. It is possible that the DC-10 VLAT could also be awarded a contract. This aircraft is a great tool and I certainly look forward to seeing it back in the mix this summer.
Australia has suffered through one of the worst fire seasons in recent history. Most of the activity was in the southeast part of the country. Single Engine Air Tankers played a major role in suppression efforts and I plan to have an article in the next issue about their efforts to protect their country.
Two of Carson Helicopter former employees have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States government following the crash of one of their aircraft in 2010 on the Iron 44 Fire in northern California. Seven firefighters and two air crew were killed when the chopper attempted a take-off in an overloaded condition.
The two employees falsified documents overstating the aircraft’s operational parameters. More charges against the two will follow if the indictment holds. In some parts of the country, fire season is already gearing up. I hope that all of you have a safe and profitable year. Please share your knowledge and experience. I hope to meet you in the mountains one day.
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