Crews train and recertify in the CL-415EAF for the 2021 fire season

Bridger Aerospace CL-415
Bridger Aerospace CL-415EAF, from Business Insider video

In January, Business Insider spent three days with Bridger Aerospace in Mesa, Arizona, where a class of pilots and technicians trained and recertified for the 2021 fire season in the company’s signature firefighting aircraft, the CL-415EAF known as the Super Scooper.

The crews flew the $30 million amphibious air tanker as it scooped up and then dropped up to 1,400 gallons of water.

Air tankers in Tucson’s Pima Air & Space Museum

Grumman AF-2S
Grumman AF-2S in the Pima Air Museum. Photo by Steve Stenkamp.

Steve Stenkamp sent us these photos he took at the Pima Air & Space Museum last March. “It’s an excellent way to spend 3-4 hours,” he said.

Thanks Steve!

C-123
C-123 in the Pima Air Museum. Photo by Steve Stenkamp.
P-2V
P2V-7 in the Pima Air Museum. Photo by Steve Stenkamp.
DC-7B
DC-7B in the Pima Air Museum. Photo by Steve Stenkamp.
C-119C
C-119C in the Pima Air Museum. Photo by Steve Stenkamp.

Over 400 historic aircraft are on display at the museum that encompasses 80 acres of exhibits.

We grabbed this photo of the museum from Google Earth:

Pima Air and Space Museum
Pima Air and Space Museum. Google Earth, August 18, 2018.

If you go:

Location: 6000 E Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85756
Tickets: $10 to $16
Website: pimaair.org

It is just south of Davis-Monthan AFB AMARG Facility and the military aircraft “boneyard” with over 4,400 planes in storage. From the Pima Museum you can board a bus to tour the boneyard but you have to apply for a security clearance at least 10 business days in advance of the desired tour date. You can apply for the clearance up to 90 days in advance.

TBT: Senator John Kyl on reducing budgets for fuel reduction

Kiabab NF Gov Prairie Rx 1-2014
Kiabab National Forest in Arizona, Government Prairie prescribed fire, January, 2014.

For Throwback Thursday, let’s take another look at an article published on Wildfire Today February 12, 2008 about a topic that is still an issue 12 years later.

Senator John Kyl, a Republican from Arizona, in an article on his web site criticizes the President’s proposed budget for 2009 which reduces the funds allocated for fuel treatments.

“With almost 48 percent of the proposed budget going toward fire fighting, the Forest Service might be more appropriately called the “Fire Service.”

I believe funding for fighting fires must be complemented by adequate funding for preventing them. Proactive management of our forests not only is the best tool in combating wildfires, it is critical to restoring forest health and improving habitats for diverse species.

Typically, there are two complimentary methods of treatment: mechanical thinning of brush and smaller diameter trees, and prescribed burning. These treatments open up forests so they are less susceptible to “hot” crown fires. More importantly, reducing competition for soil nutrients, water, and sunlight immediately enhances the health of the trees, allowing them to grow bigger and fend off diseases and deadly insects like bark beetles.”

Preliminary information released about fatal helicopter crash in Arizona

Bryan Jeffrey Boatman
Bryan J. Boatman

The U.S. Forest Service has released preliminary information about the helicopter crash in which pilot Bryan Jeffrey Boatman, 37, was killed.

It occurred on the Polles Fire in central Arizona when Mr. Boatman was approaching a helispot delivering supplies by long line to firefighters in a remote area.

He was the only person on board the aircraft.

Below is the narrative from the Forest Service’s Preliminary Brief:

Narrative: On Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at approximately 1216 MST, a UH-1H helicopter, N623PB, impacted terrain with one occupant on board. The aircraft was performing long-line cargo delivery operations in support of fire suppression on the Tonto National Forest when the mishap occurred. The aircraft was under exclusive use contract with the USFS.

The NTSB investigation into this accident is ongoing. At this time, there are no indications of immediate safety concerns with other similar make/model of aircraft. All matters related to public information must be disseminated through the NTSB.

Mr. Boatman flew for Airwest Helicopters out of Glendale, Arizona. He leaves behind his wife Elizabeth Marie Boatman and his 8-year old daughter Claire Elizabeth Boatman. The family chose to hold a private funeral service. Donations in his memory may be made to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation (wffoundation.org).

UH-1H N623PB
UH-1H N623PB. Training in 2016. Photo: Jose Navarro.