It has been almost six months since we provided an update on the 15 Sherpa C-23B aircraft that were scheduled to be transferred from the U.S. Army to the U.S. Forest Service. The expectation was that they would be used by smokejumpers and for transporting cargo, paracargo, and possibly firefighters.
We asked Jennifer Jones, a spokesperson for the USFS, for the current status of the transfer and transition. Below is her response:
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“As of 9/11/14, a total of 10 C-23B+/SD3-60s have been transferred from the DoD to the U.S. Forest Service and the remainder are scheduled to be transferred within the next few weeks.
Three of the aircraft are in Redmond, Oregon and one of the aircraft is in Ogden, Utah. The remainder of the aircraft are at, or are in transit to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), also known as the “boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona where they will be stored until the U.S. Forest Service fields them.
The U.S. Forest Service will locate one aircraft in Ogden, Utah to serve as the prototype aircraft for FAA Civil Certification as an SD3-60 Sherpa and will then conform the rest of the C-23B+ aircraft to that standard. One of the three aircraft located in Redmond, Oregon will be used to complete the Smokejumper Aircraft Screening and Evaluation Board (SASEB) approval process and to develop pilot familiarity and training. The other aircraft will be progressively certified, configured for wildfire suppression missions, and brought into service.
The U.S. Forest Service expects to begin bringing the aircraft into service incrementally (two to four aircraft per year) beginning in 2016 due to the time that it will take to complete aircraft modifications; to equip the aircraft for smokejumper, cargo, and other wildfire suppression missions (for example, by installing radios, Aircraft Flight Following [AFF], and other wildfire mission specific equipment); and to contract with private industry for operation, pilot, and maintenance services.
While final decisions have not been made yet, initial indications are ten of the C-23B+/SD3-60s will be used to replace U.S. Forest Service owned and contracted aircraft used for smokejumping. The U.S. Forest Service is pursuing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) civil certification of the non-certificated C-23B+ aircraft as Short Brothers SD3-60 Sherpa aircraft. This would enable the agency to [use] these aircraft to perform several aerial firefighting missions in addition to delivering smokejumpers and cargo. These missions include transporting fire crews, incident management teams, and other overhead and support personnel to airfields and airports that larger transport planes could not use; transporting cargo and communications equipment; and supporting all-hazards incidents.”
5 Comments
From;
U.S. Forest Service C-23B+/SD3-60 Aircraft Change Management and Implementation Project (CMIP) Working Version 1, July 30, 2014
Page 24
“A. NIFC Public Affairs Officer – Jennifer Jones
1. Process:
a. Identify Goals/Objectives – what to achieve/objectives of communication
1. Inform the agency of congressional mandate.
2. Positive spin – “sell the problem” Display benefits”
The best reason that the USFS has to accept the C-23B is that it is a “congressional mandate”? (NDAA 2014, SEC.1098 (b) page 217).
The way to do it is to “Positive spin” ?
The quotes below are taken from a USFS Power Point titled “C-23B+ vs C-23A Comparison”.
“Originally civilian SD3-60’s with 15K – 20K flight hours on airframe converted to C-23B+ for the US Army. New serial #’s assigned to airframes. Considered NEW aircraft at time of conversion.”
“The need to download will occur pretty much at the same temperature as the “A” ”
You can put lipstick on a pig but it is still a pig.
This is one gift horse that needs it’s teeth checked.
Roger
You are correct in every way, Roger
You saw this like most pilots
When the word “free” or aircraft that are “politically donated” pilot usually know what is ne route and what is foisted upon them.
But I say enjoy the newer aircraft, at least they weren’t fished out of some East Jababie South American jungle and and a roller painted Equatorial paint job
Thanks for the info 3 weeks ago…….we you able to solve you computer problems elsewhere? If you know what I mean
The C-23B+ vs C23A;
Is not – more capable,
Is – 5kts faster but requires 19% more fuel burn to achieve it,
Has – a lower design payload (230 pounds less).
That information is from the aircraft flight manual;
C-23B+ Publication Ref SD3-60/CM
C-23A, T.O. 1C-23A-1
or
USFS Power Point titled “C-23B+ vs C-23A Comparison”
In my opinion;
The C-23B+ vs C-23A
Is not – newer,
Has – a higher time airframe,
It would be a gross misappropriation of taxpayer dollars to continue a change to the C-23B+.
Roger
Rodger, it appears USFS doesn’t want the Sherpa’s either. Read:
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/future-of-west-yellowstone-smokejumper-base-hazy/article_5fc631e4-2980-54fd-a6db-e3d9d0d6674a.html
What will happen to the remaining 11 now at AMARG, mothballed for good, or will USFS now have to find a home?
Milerive,
The powers that be (upper management and those seeking to become upper management) want the Sherpa. 18 – 24 months ago the power phrase was “Single aircraft smokejumper fleet.” That has been modified somewhat to allow that the agency Twin Otters do serve a valuable role in the Idaho back country. What we are seeing is empire building, cronyism and job protection insulation.
There is an article in the Billings Gazette that was written about in this forum under the title of “Former USFS pilots criticize the retirement of the last DC-3”. The article that you reference is actually wrong on one point, the cruise speed of the Sherpa is about 150 knots indicated (180 true) at 10,000 ft. That information is from the flight manual.
I believe that the people on the fire line understand the benefits of a mixed smokejumper fleet. A place for everything and everything in it’s place. If it is true that there are still 11 Sherpas at AMARG, that is the best place for them. AND:
1. Take the engines off of 4 of them, flat rate and hang them on the C-23A’s. They are the lowest time airframes and lighter to boot.
2. Use the money that would be spent making the B+ fire ready and go buy a few good airplanes that have more performance, speed and endurance. If they want to go backwards, go way back. An argument could be made that single engine recip powered airplanes could be more versatile.
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