Aerial Firefighting
Posted by Sea-Stretch3784@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 25 comments
Shot in the dark here. Don’t roast me too hard. Anyone know how the pathway to aerial fire operations? I am a wildland firefighter who hasn’t been at the controls in 14 years so I’d be starting flight school over. I am in Texas and the nearest base to me is ABIA in Austin. We received air support from them this past week with the Hudson fire in Bastrop from CL-415s and air tractors which I believe are employed by the USFS. How difficult is it to get your foot in the door with USFS or the private sector? Any firebomber, bird dog, SEAT pilots in the house that wanna chime in? Side note I was looking into Aeroguard in Austin as a potential school but it seems way too good to be true. Am I correct?
Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit
This has been asked and answered on here before. Do a search using the search bar for the sub.
It was asked and answered less than two weeks ago.
-burnr-@reddit
Get a heli licence…lots of jurisdictions use more rotor vs fixed wing for fires
NoGuidance8609@reddit
First get the ratings. Step 2 is building the time to meet the USFS contract minimums. Getting the first gig as an air attack pilot really isn’t that hard, especially during times where the airlines are the big shiny goal all the pilots are chasing. Air Attack is the best path to move into a SEAT or Tanker gig. You meet the people, you learn the procedures, how the system works and work your way up in the organization. There are getting to be more tanker operations that have a large air attack program just so they can train the next generation.
NuttPunch@reddit
It's 100% networking and a lot of hard work for a job that honestly doesn't compensate that well.
CryptographerDry7343@reddit
My step dad used to manage a couple of states wildfires. He said they start with crop dusting to get used to low altitude passes, and work their way up from there.
Flyguy115@reddit
I talked to some aerial fighter pilots and they told me the same thing. Here is the thing how do you find a crop dusting gig? All those guys told me you have to know someone, but no other help then that.
theoriginalturk@reddit
They are hard to get into.
Its a tight-nit community and they dont like being used as a steppingstone. Like the other guy said best chance is to work ground for them and expect decently high hour requirements.
allthewaytouranus@reddit
Find one and be part of the ground crew for a year or two to learn and earn their trust. They are always hiring ground crew guys. Knowing how to apply chemicals is more important than knowing how to fly. Also lots of tailwheel time.
cmwoody@reddit
Dangerous stuff. Got to be quick on the controls and ready to react to hellacious up and downdrafts. Keep the turboprops spinning fast rpm and use prop pitch in case you need immediate power. Don't auger in like my late friend did on the MAFFS 7 C-130.
_vti@reddit
To give a practical answer, the owner of my old flight school was a CL415 instructor at one point. He started all this off by working basic SEL bush ops in Alaska, eventually ending up with time on a Twitter. That experience led him to put in several years over in Maldives for TMA after getting his float endorsement.
Several years of multi-engine float ops, I can't remember the amount of hours he had leaving there but it netted him a foot in the door with Transport Canada, aerial firefighting. Key point here. Several years of multi-engine turbine float operations experience.
kreese2424@reddit
Does anyone know how this pays comparatively to other flying gigs? I.e., commercial airlines
spezbot69@reddit
Private contractors pay you an annual salary. During fire season you get additional pay while activated.
SubarcticFarmer@reddit
I don't think you'll ever approach a major airline in pay, but many who do it love it. I know some pilots migrate to follow fire seasons in the down time in North America while others enjoy a vacation.
FyrPilot86@reddit
It’s seasonal in most of the United States. A majority of the air attack jobs are private contractor firms. Summer is busy, pay is very good for a few months; then you’ll be furloughed in the Winter, with zero pay. Airlines are obviously more stable, with year round income.
n365pa@reddit
FyrPilot86@reddit
https://www.spuraviationservices.com/ Seasonal Air Attack positions
paddlereaper@reddit
This is my dream flying job, no idea how to get there. I'll probably try to get a job flying for the forest service or a crop duster to get the right experience until I have enough time to apply for something in firefighting
FyrPilot86@reddit
https://bridgeraerospace.com/careers/
AerobaticDiamond@reddit
I worked with an aerial firefighting company while I was completing my ratings.
In Canada, if you want to fly Air Tractors for firefighting, the most common pathway is air spraying. Time in the AT802 for ag makes the transition to fire AT802 fairly simple.
DeluxeBurger01@reddit
I’m a medevac guy, but my company does LATs as well, so I’ll do my best to give some decent info from what I’ve picked up.
I’m going to assume you’re up to speed with needing to be an employable pilot as step 1.
Single-handedly the largest barrier to entry (assuming you find someone interested in hiring you) is the Forest Service green card. You need drop experience which is hard to get unless you have previous aerial application or fire time, or have someone willing to get you that time.
Fires aren’t a low time job either, they usually require a sizable amount of turbine/floats/spray/ multi time depending on if you’re looking at LAT, SEAT/ amphibs.
Having wildland experience will definitely help, as you’ll understand how the fighting is structured. However like any other fringe aviation job, networking and who you know matters most.
I’ve seen people talk about getting their foot in the door with air attack, and building those relationships over a few seasons to get a chance to get into tankers.
spezbot69@reddit
Agree with starting with air attack for a few years until a FO spot opens up for a LAT.
iPullCAPS@reddit
Here’s the requirements as of now
Jrnation8988@reddit
US Forestry Service has their mins posted online. It varies by pay grade/platform, but you need at LEAST 1200 hours.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5143164.pdf
wesdiego@reddit
I have the same questions, good luck OP!
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Shot in the dark here. Don’t roast me too hard. Anyone know how the pathway to aerial fire operations? I am a wildland firefighter who hasn’t been at the controls in 14 years so I’d be starting flight school over. I am in Texas and the nearest base to me is ABIA in Austin. We received air support from them this past week with the Hudson fire in Bastrop from CL-415s and air tractors which I believe are employed by the USFS. How difficult is it to get your foot in the door with USFS or the private sector? Any firebomber, bird dog, SEAT pilots in the house that wanna chime in? Side note I was looking into Aeroguard in Austin as a potential school but it seems way too good to be true. Am I correct?
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