Real time aerial surveillance will be funded in the upcoming budget to the tune of $30 mil.
https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/news/21267305/ca-to-fund-30m-for-wildland-aircraft-with-new-technology?utm_source=FH+Technology+%26+Communications&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS220523079&o_eid=9886I4320067F8N&rdx.ident[pull]=omeda|9886I4320067F8N&oly_enc_id=9886I4320067F8N
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So happy to see this become a program of record for the state!
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This is the CalOES platforms. CF will also have Courtney & Coulson ships on 120 day EU. So in reality, 4 ships just for California to support real time intel.
Just like the S2’s, a ship should be over a fire in 20min or less.
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Hopefully the Intell does not get too delayed with what I assume will be a little more regulation. It’s pretty darn good right now!
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Suspect this is the FIRIS bird. Can someone please confirm?
Also, curious what is typically the lag time to post the imagery once the flight has concluded?
Thanks!
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I have been told yes as there is already an AA on scene
Yep - AA-52 is the green ship in the upper right.
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Yes, N43U has a callsign of Intel-24. N57B is another intel ship based out of KMCC.
You can often tell the intel ships on a flight tracker by their altitude above AA, in this case 6000ft higher than air attack. If it was a training platform or Lead, they would be much more aligned with the FTA altitudes.
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Roger that - thanks, Jake!
Always a font of knowledge 
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Sure would like to see what a U2 can capture from 63k? 
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What they say they can? “nothing.” What they can really? A count of all the resources on-scene, agencies, their call-sign stickers, and in some cases, their license plate numbers.
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Everything!!! When I ran crew at OVY camp we did a burn near Fish Springs(Black Rock). In prepping for the burn no trees were to be cut. We cut a tree on a dog leg that we knew would give up problems. Crew buried the stump and made it look like nothing was ever there. The Botanist pulls out a map and says where is this tree. Long story short that piece of ground was mapped from a U2 she said.
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That’s crazy… 
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U2 is checking Red Cards while maintaining social distancing. #safety
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Usually less than 10-15 minutes,
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