Griffo. I assume that yours is an honest and innocent question based on simple lay observation of events as shown by the media.
The Herc thing has been tried and has been binned as not the best solution to Aussie bush fire, or ‘wildfires’ as they are now known. There is an existing fleet of fully funded suitable aircraft with highly trained specialist pilots that is available and distributed around the worst areas on call and standby for aerial fire suppression. These are Ag pilots who fly Single Engine Air Tankers (SEAT) that are slightly modified, convertible ag planes with capacities around 2500 litres. They are located at numerous small fire bases that are capable of refueling and refilling these aircraft so that they can fly many short haul delivery flights each per day per fire. They can be readily relocated from one base to another so that they can be concentrated when needed and are also highly autonomous and capable of operating with minimal ground support when required.
The SEAT fleet is supported by several class 1 and class 2 rotary wing aircraft that can operate autonomously, sourcing water from convenient reservoirs to enable very short ferry to and from the fire.
This system is flexible versatile and readily mobile and mobilized and is an extremely effective and cost effective tool to enable ‘first strike’ capability to remote fires. It is not dependant on a few large established bases and large crews and sophisticated airframes that require additional Bird dog aircraft and long times over the fire site prior to their drop(s), all of which reduce effectiveness to respond rapidly. It is possible that perhaps in a few instances such a force may be able to assist the existing system, but is likely to cause more issues than it would cure.
As to fire suppression operations being within the domain of the military doctrine or these operations bearing any semblance to military ops, this is another matter, but you average herc pilot would need extensive training to get anywhere near the standards that the qualified ag pilots who conduct these ops day in day out, always at MTOW (and that’s Ag MTOW) in conditions that would make your hair stand on end if you only could see what they do. The costs associated with using the Military, especially with the current cost recovery policies would be horrifying I am sure.
Hats off to the SEAT and Helitak pilots that have done an outstanding job in unbelievable conditions over the fires around our country over the years. More power to you and I hope that the present fleet of smaller aircraft is maintained and expanded.
Having said that, it is always worth considering all options and not being blinded by current methodologies, your question is worthy of airing and I hope that I have helped address your query in some way. I am not a resident expert on the matter but I used to fly active fire suppression work in a former life and occasionally these days I spend long hours, when called in, flying aerial command and fire mapping flights for statutory bodies and commercial stakeholders over fires in Victoria.
HD
XXX - don't know about ex fire attack aircraft being used to carry drugs in colombia, but I did see some black painted AirTractor 802's over there that are used for spraying defoliant on the stuff. Aztecs and Shrikes seem to be the aircraft of choice the Narco runners down that way as every airport i have been to in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela has a rotten row of seized ones slowly corroding away beside a taxiway or apron.
Last edited by HarleyD; 13th Jan 2009 at 22:17.
Reason: spelling