You are correct - They will be on base loaded for IA at Ramona but will have to go to Hemet to reload. They will be upping the dispatch in SDU to 4 tankers to make up the load and return time to Hemet
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Is there a time limit for tankers staying loaded?
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Not really with the newer retardants. However heard they plan to park them next to control tower, that paving is 4”-5” there. Hot days sitting with a loaded IA tanker (1,000 gal) the pavement may buckle somewhat?
Back in 2002 we moved everything to Gillespie Field (KSEE) as the Ramona runway was being repaved. So in that temporary loading area we found out the hard way with both tankers temporarily stuck in 5” asphalt.
Fyi, the highest weight per square inch on S-2T is between the twin tire nose gear. Roughly 10% of total loaded AC (26,500 lbs) GTW about 2,650 pounds between the two small tires.
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Very intriguing article regarding the future of contract air tankers. The past few years have been exciting, from an aviation perspective, in the effectiveness and importance when LAT/VLATS can be involved in the IA stage. CAL-FIRE 130’s are helping change this, in the same way the Firehawks and Coulson have change the night attack game. If contract LATS and MAFFS are certified for Initial Attack with out a lead, I see it as a huge win giving the ground resources time to do their thing. Look at the aerial response to the Fey Fire, (LRA, State, and Fed land) IC’s sent the board and it was worth it, was held to 700 acres in conditions that were similar to how they were for the Erskine and Borel fires. Granite there were a few differences (pun intended).
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It looks like the Cal Fire C-130 is loading out of Romona for the RRU-Rosa fire. I thought Romona was closed for a remodel?
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Its on the web cam loading now
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I am pretty sure I saw it fly over me in Redlands today out of San Berdu tanker base, but could be mistaken
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yes 10 tanker made 2 runs out of SBD up to the fire behind Big Bear this am.
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138 is also working the same fire
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Suggest reading the book, Fire Flight, by John J Nance. Very interesting. Well worth reading.
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Ramona AAB to close for remodeling on August 12
Tankers 70 & 71 to be staged loaded for IA, but will require all reloads at Hemet.
Estimated 8-12 months depending on what the contractors run into and the weather this coming winter?
CEQA Proposal
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Let’s hope it is not the same contractor that build Mt Woodson ( Ramona).
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Yea, that contractor left many issues!
Typical state contract (Low-bid) always gets the task. My guess it will not be completed and operational until late 2026.
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Man, the DC-10 is big. I got to wander around in an empty C-5 once, and it was absurd.
Anyways, here’s my “inside a tanker” picture (T182 in this case, one of Aeroflite’s Dash-8s):
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I know SEAT’s have been at Chester for years. But I believe CalFire has not allowed them on SRA fires in the past. One dropped on the NYP fire today. Has CF’s policy changed?
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Not air tanker but Feds now have a HELCO platform.
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