File photo of Blue Sky Helicopters HH-60L, N51BH. Photo by Blue Sky Helicopters.Napa County has joined the list of counties in California that own or contract for helicopters to assist firefighters on the ground by dropping water or transporting cargo.
The Napa Valley Register reported that the county awarded a contract to Blue Sky Helicopters for a Blackhawk. The Southern California based company operates HH-60L helicopters and has had contracts with the US Forest Service, Department of the Interior, Oregon Department of Forestry, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and CAL FIRE.
Napa County received several bids but selected Blue Sky and their $1.65 million offer.
CAL FIRE has been operating a CH-47D Chinook helicopter out of Napa County Airport, but it is subject to being assigned to fires in other parts of the state, as it was Tuesday. Napa wants the helicopter under the control of county Fire Chief Geoff Belyea to be sure it will primarily be available to protect property within the county.
In May the Napa Valley Register reported that a private organization’s offer to pay $1.5 million to help lease two single engine air tankers for the county was refused by CAL FIRE.
Other counties in California that have firefighting helicopters include Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura, Orange, Kern, and Santa Barbara.
Napa County has had more than their fair share of very destructive fires over the last several years.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.
5 Comments
That’ll save em!!! A single rotot! 🤣
Hopefully they’ll send it on every initial attack.
Not unless they coordinate and cooperate with CALFIRE air attack!
Wouldn’t it be just like the other county helicopters that have their own jurisdictional initial attack area of the county like does cal fire respond to LA County, Ventura County, Santa Barbra, Kern County and take control of their air attack or does that fall under their respective jurisdiction and ask Calfire to step in ask for assistance was just curious how each air attack program is set up in their own counties why would Calfire deny the S.E.A.T.’S just curious who has the sole responsibilities of fire service in Napa County
If Blue Sky is set up for initial attack, they have probably been carded by DOA or DOI. If that is the case they can be on the CWN list for them and for CAL FIRE.
They can fly on any County fires, outside the State responsibility area (SRA) and Federal lands, which for Napa is pretty much the populated center of the Valley, on their own. No need for an Air Attack or CF participation or being carded by anyone for that matter. If there is a 90 day exclusive use contract in place they are able to conduct public operations as any public operator may. If there is not a 90 day EU contract they must only fly pursuant to their operating certificates which imposes some limitations.
I don’t know how it works for setting up a TFR if you are a county but I imagine filing a NOTAM might do it. Might get interesting if the fire is near a tower controlled airport.
If CF chooses to use them in the SRA and the County is good with it, then they fly under CFs aministration. If they have a CF card only, they can also fly for DOA and DOI, but not outside of CA. It can get dicey, and has in So Cal, when agencies do not have a clear picture of the incident command structure or have “differing” opinions as to who is in charge.
The only real difference here with the other counties mentioned is that the others all own, operate and maintain their own helicopters. They may be public use all the time and do not need 133, 137 or 135 certificates when conducting PAOs. Depending on their aircraft, they may be able to conduct civil operations as well.
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