Originally Posted by
verticalspin
I was on fires with both the Capitol and PJ 429s. They use NVGs for night HLCO missions but do not have thermal imaging systems. Those cameras are only installed on the two Helicopter Express 407s that are being used by the USFS.
We also rarely hover over the fire during HLCO missions as the article states, we fly orbits to extend our time on scene.
I stand corrected on the camera systems. I do however know what HLCO does---flew my first fire in 1991.....