Micrometeorology

In fire fighting flights, special consideration must be given to phenomena that occur due to the same special conditions of the igneous focus.
An Operational Safety Recommendation specifically talks about the importance of taking into account the “micrometeorology” generated in these situations, in order to guarantee operational safety. Within air work, the specific activity of firefighting requires a special consideration of the phenomenon of “micrometeorology”, related to the characteristics of the environment in which this activity takes place.
The unpredictability and the invisibility of air masses that move in a forest fire, mean that the studies carried out on the subject can only mitigate the probability of accidents, but in no way they establish norms of operation that allow the complete elimination of the same.
The RSO number 1642, addressed to the National Administration of Civil Aviation (ANAC), suggests “Review and update the theoretical instruction programs, specifically in the subject Applied Meteorology” in order to adapt them to the requirements required by the rating of ‘Combat against fires in forests and fields, especially in relation to “the dynamics of a fire, the micrometeorology within the area of ​​the fire and its effects on aircraft at the most critical moment of the operation such as the final launch.”
The objective of this RSO is that “those who obtain the authorization” to carry out this type of flight “do so with a theoretical knowledge of the atmospheric and environmental variables that are developed specifically in that area”.
This recommendation arises from the Operational Safety Report resulting from the investigation of the accident suffered by the aircraft Air Tractor AT 602 with registration LV-YBF, on January 19, 2016 in the Rural Zone of San Mateo, province of Corrientes.
According to the conclusion of the analysis, the aforementioned aircraft was conducting a firefighting flight, suffering a loss of control after performing the discharge, which resulted in a subsequent impact on the ground. The investigation identified as micrometeorology operational risk factor within the fire zone and its effects on aircraft at the time of the end of the launch.