PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - The end of fire-fighting pilots............
Old 27th Nov 2014, 16:18
  #18 (permalink)  
Gordy
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Posts: 1,959
Received 50 Likes on 15 Posts
I say bring it on.

They may use drones for aerial mapping at night or in inclement weather, but we are many years away from replacing a fire fighting pilot. The video shows a K-max in daylight, flat terrain, no wind dropping water. Try doing the same on a fire, mid-slope at 9,000 ft with 25kts prevailing wind, with downslope draw and a fire moving at 20kts. NOT gonna happen just yet.
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