Do not quote me as absolute fact but I believe what I’ve heard is that the type ones will be running out of other bases but the OV-10 and s2s will be able to use the taxiways in andamongst the resurfacing
7 Likes
I heard similar. And Red Bluff has hosted the OV-10 and S2’s in the past during RDD maintenance or airshows. No MRB setup, but loaded for IA launch and then would refill Chico. I could see the Type 1s hosted in Chester or Chico, and if the smaller wings don’t work out on the taxi/alternates, wonder what an MRB looks like at Red Bluff, as well as maybe activating Siskiyou for fast mud turn around on any SKU start vs the turn around time to Medford or Chico. Either way, lots of cards to play and not their first rodeo to solve.
3 Likes
”Taxiways are only for temporary use because they don’t have thresholds”
5 Likes
Coming to Ramona soon to too
2 Likes
Yep, Ramona AAB the loading pits, retardant plant and ramp area remodeled to accommodate the C-130. Work may take up to a year, as it hasn’t started. The Ramona aircraft and personnel will be relocated to Gillespie Field (KSEE) with a MRB.
5 Likes
On top of the that word is pilots quarters on top of what they have now.
1 Like
A question - Are the CalFire C-130’s IA qualified? Do they need a lead plane?
carl
1 Like
They don’t need a lead plane
5 Likes
Interesting. I am an Ignoranti here, and I’m curious why not? What determines if a retardant delivery aircraft needs a lead plane?
1 Like
Initial attack qualified crew
Cal Fire 130s are qualified
Majority of the LATs are qualified
VLATs need a lead
5 Likes
8.1 Retardant Drops
- Qualified Initial Attack Airtanker Pilots (AKI) are authorized to drop retardant on fires
without the supervision of a Leadplane (LP)/ASM, or Air Tactical Group Supervisor
(ATGS). - Non-AKI qualified pilots are not authorized to drop retardant on fires unless an LP or
ASM is over the fire and supervises the drop
7 Likes
Juan Browne’s analysis of this past weekends conflicts between the flight instructor and Air Tankers at MCC.
Audio fixed:
13 Likes
This is very much a case of “just because it’s legal doesn’t mean you’re not a self-entitled idiot for doing so.” There are a dozen airports within twenty or thirty miles (or even far closer, at Rio Linda) she could’ve gone to for pattern training work. I suspect she just wanted to self-importantly show-off to her student pilot that they could mix with the tankers on a big runway.
7 Likes
Soooooo we all know that “just ‘cause ya can doesn’t mean ya should” holds true much of the time, and if the instructor TRULY believed that she was right and the tanker crews were wrong she exhibited terrible examples of ADM/CRM to the student by continuing to fly in a pattern when everyone else was ‘wrong and dangerous’
If the instructor’s aeronautical decision making leads her to continue flying her student around in such a dangerous pattern to prove a point, how is that helping said student learn how to fly safely in adverse conditions or around dangerous pilots? And while we can’t know about the conversation in the cockpit, I hope the incident leads the student to (respectfully) question future instructors/crewmembers/passengers/controllers if something doesn’t seem right. Great learning experience all the way around, and I really hope for the instructor’s and school’s sake that the delays caused can’t be proven to have had an impact on the structure losses.
While Juan probably isn’t the best pilot on the planet, he’s accumulated the hours and experience he has by being good at many things for many years, and I think both the instructor in the pattern and the owner of the school could learn a thing or thirty by spending some time hangar flyin’ with him. And if he ain’t the best, surely he’s up near the top o’ the heap — the Air Force trusted him, his carrier trusts him, pilots and keyboard warriors trust him… soooo I think the flight school should probably at least CONSIDER the possibility that they’re wrong.
Reminds me of the lady that hears a breaking news alert of a wrong way driver on the freeway. Concerned for her husband, she calls his cell to warn him.
“Herbie! Be careful, there’s a driver on the wrong said of the freeway!”
“It’s worse than that, Eunice — they’re ALL driving the wrong way!”
If everyone else is wrong, you’ve gotta stop. Either you’re the only one doing it right, or you’re the one doing it wrong. Don’t insist on the right of way, yada yada yada…
7 Likes
My wife and I watched this video and the first words out of her were, “This is California, we have fires!”
It may not be her or her family’s emergency, but it was another family’s emergency.
Like on a previous post; go to another airport or try another day.
Fun Fact: I have been the recipient, as I’m sure many of you have, of many drops that saved lives and property. Not to mention, slowing the rate of spread down, allowing us to gain perimeter control.
8 Likes