The Walt Darran International Aerial Firefighting Award is presented annually to recognize a significant contribution to aerial firefighting by an individual or organization. It was first awarded in 2014 at the Aerial Firefighting Conference in Sacramento, California, USA.

The award is named after the late Walt Darran who was a highly experienced airtanker pilot from California and a constant and passionate advocate for safety and improvement in aerial firefighting industry.

The award is administered by the Walt Darran Award Committee which is currently made up of a consortium of existing groups involved in aerial firefighting from International Fire Aviation Working Group (IFAWG), UN-ISDR Wildland Fire Advisory Group (WFAG) members, and Associated Aerial Firefighters.

Nominations are now being accepted for 2016.

Articles about the recipients of the awards in 2014 and 2015, George Petterson and Philippe Bodino, can be seen here.

The Award Charter states:

• Any person who has made a significant contribution to furthering the safety and/or effectiveness and/or efficiency of aerial firefighting is eligible to be nominated. The Award may recognise contributions either over recent year(s) or over a sustained period.
• An organization that has made an outstanding contribution to furthering the safety and/or effectiveness and/or efficiency of aerial firefighting is also eligible to be nominated.

The closing date for nominations is February 19, 2016.

To nominate someone for the award please download and complete this form.

The award will be presented at the Aerial Firefighting International 2016 conference in Sacramento, California, USA, March 22-23, 2016.