I can see daily availability rates sky rocketing, which it sounds like is expected. I am concerned that it will reduce resources in a way that will harm the communitys we generally get to help. National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) Support So this all begs a question how do we bridge the gap here? All the UTFs for rotors can get name-tied back to a few individuals at NIFC. Organizations needing assistance are numerous. What happens when they implement it towards Type Is? Once we get all of that figured out, turns out that the increase in performance specifications at 7,000 / 30C combined with the added equipment pretty much eliminates legacy ships from meeting performance requirements. FS. hb```, cb YL USFS R8 / USFWS R4 Annual Operating Plan for the use of the AS350B2 Helicopter. Smokejumper STC The end result is fewer options for the government, but maybe that is what they want. Thank you. Must be annually certified by the local host unit agency administrator or designee prior to being made available for assignment. Yes (work and train as a unit 40 hours per week. It doesnt matter what we say if we dont pay the price , the US Forest service only go and hire the Canadians to do our job. U.S. Forest Service. Tanked helicopters with snorkel capabilities can draft from open water sources. Fire camp infrastructureand Incident Command Post (ICP) is a location at which primary command functions are executed. NIFC Operations Support These helicopters can strategically drop thousands of gallons of water or retardant with pinpoint accuracy, while working closely with ground personnel and other firefighting aircraft. I would be interested to see more reporting on why the USFS is making this transition now and how they made the decisions. For point-to-point flights, AFF flight following may be used as well. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Support Aerial Supervision Module (ASM) Lead Planes Smokejumperstravel all over the country, including Alaska, to provide highly-trained, experienced firefighters and leadership for quick initial attack on wildland fires in remote areas. . Typos, let us know, and please keep in mind the commenting ground rules before you post a comment. Columbia has been focusing a lot of their efforts to Afghanistan and other overseas over the last decade. All the experienced aviation folks leading the latest helo RFP need to know that what youre proposing will lead to less a/c and more accidents/deaths. PDF Fillable Forms must be downloaded to your computer, you can then open them up in your Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat software to fill them in and save. 0000073974 00000 n 34 aircraft in this category operate in the US, mainly Bell 205 and 212. They will tell you they have their smerfs.SMEs ( who typically are cradle to grave beuracrats as well), who are supposedly dialed in on the subject matter surerightlmao Who will buy a 206, 407, etc besides AG guys? If a vendor doesnt like the requirements, they can choose not to submit a proposal. Yes, the customer is the FS. Then why are one year contracts with optional years considered a sustainable way for helicopter companies to provide helicopters for fire fighting? Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. It just will. Most exclusive use helicopters have a daily rate and a flight rate, but no guaranteed hours. Provide Equipment and Services for Fire Suppression | WA - DNR Ignoring the facts of what that aircraft can actually carry, not what the vendor claims. Other aircraft can be rigged with a Bambi Bucket but several operators have made the choice to heavily modify their helicopters with internal bunkers and complex release systems. Call-When-Needed (CWN) Airtankers 2.1 A Department of Defense liaison was added as a permanent partner at NIFC in 2008. Besides the cost for the new equipment will be passed on the FS through the increase in Daily Availability rates. Your last sentence is the the nail in the coffin.seeing as that this contract will be LPTA and a year to year option, how do you finance a new a/c that will surely be $2-$4M on the low end? These are basically short term Exclusive use contracts and I expect will be moved around at such per fire danger needs, and will be putting lots of hours on Hobbs meters. They never seem to be logical ! NFPA = National Fire Protection Association Setting the forest on fire on purpose | AspenTimes.com National Helicopters (Large Fire Support, Initial Attack, Call-When-Needed) For aircraft in the first two categories, fire-fighting equipment consists of efficient and versatile ventral kits or a Bambi Bucket. Office: (208) 387-5279 Mobile: (208) 608-6763, These changes are going to put operators who have worked hard for generations, who have tirelessly jumped through USFS hoops for years out of businessthat is a crappy government thanks, with costly and unnecessary changes as the final slap in the face! NIFC is home to the national fire management programs of each federal fire agency, along with partners including the National Association of State Foresters, the U.S. Fire Administration, and the National Weather Service. Type 2 helicopters are very effective initial attack resources. The difference is there are very few air tankers compared to helicopters on EU and CWN contracts. Office: (208) 387-5670 Mobile: (208) 616-5547 FEDERAL WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT POLICY & DOCTRINE OVERVIEW CHAPTER 1 Release Date: January 2020 1 1 Chapter 1 2 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Doctrine 3 Overview 4 Scope 5 The Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations states, 6 references, or supplements policy for Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest 7 Service, U.S. We have gone a few years in the past 10 where we had zero USFS work at all based on fire behavior but they want their random equipment to be installed on our dime. Of course, the US Forest Service is not the only organization to have helicopter water bombers. Sounds like a great schedule to buy a next gen helicopter. If any of those folks everrrrrr knew what it takes to run a rotary operation. What do you do with an expensive asset like a helo when youre only customer suggests to just not submit? So this all begs a question maybe how do we bridge the gap here? xb``b``Vg```+g@L@,&@ - IR Scanner Orders, Sunrise/Sunset Give me a break. Perhaps thats the point: There are available alternatives on the market that can replace the legacy platforms for type II and III, so we should continue upgrading the fleet as we can. w/ R1 Supplements, Notice Forest Service makes major changes in helicopter contracts The Branch is comprised of two teams; aviation and logistics. O[Mc!3EICKD2%. Aircraft types: P2V, HC-130H, BAe-146, MD-87, C-130Q, RJ85, C-130 H & J equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS). The Call When Needed contracts, which are also valid for 5 years, are intended to provide additional equipment when the situation requires it. ). Each bucket has a release valve on the bottom controlled by the helicopter crew. Rotating blades are also present and again play a discrete but essential role where their natural qualities are exploited at best. Southern Area Master Interagency Agreement. All types shall meet federal, state and agency requirements for motor vehicle safety standards, including all gross vehicle weight ratings when fully loaded. Others are only used to drop water or fireretardant, ormove firefighting supplies and equipment. Call-When-Needed (CWN) Amphibious Water Scooper Aircraft National Interagency Aviation Committee Publication Library, BLM The National Interagency Fire Center is committed to making its information and communication technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting or exceeding the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The Incident Command System (ICS) uses this system based on the equipment capability. Thank you. N/A = Not applicable Companies like Columbia and Erickson are considered too big now. @RtS1yD &LS,60E0U22U0J7gm:b|gY. A 407 isnt a twin, even tho a 407hp will outperform all the above as a type III. National Geographic Area Coordination Center Website Portal List of air tankers on USFS contracts - Fire Aviation November 25, 2017 Revision 2.8 . PDF USDA Forest Service Aviation Strategy Implementation Columbia sold to another company last year and with the combined ammount of aircraft they are considered a large company. A quick peruse through that Q&A shows that dozens of operators really gasped when this RFP came out. For example, the 2017 average daily rate for large federal call when needed air tankers was 54 percent higher than aircraft on exclusive . Without a federal contract, we cant get carded and without cards, we cant work for the state. startxref Maybe the PM, HS and the CO should talk to some a/c financing companies to better understand the reality of upgrading or buying new equipment. Airbus Helicopters breaks ground on first helicopter as Leonardo: Centaurium Aviation Ltd. takes delivery of it Health Crisis: the French Gendarmerie air support. Nope. endstream endobj 11 0 obj <> endobj 12 0 obj <> endobj 13 0 obj <> endobj 14 0 obj <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/ExtGState<>>> endobj 15 0 obj <> endobj 16 0 obj <> endobj 17 0 obj <>stream No.thats what happens when you have cradle to grave beuracrats (who havnt a clue about running a business) in charge of doling out federal dollars. 10 21 Type IIs? Personnel shall meet the qualification requirements of. 0000074247 00000 n Let the operators upgrade when if/it will work. 5121, et seq., for ownership and operation of equipment, including depreciation, overhead, all maintenance, field repairs, fuel, lubricants, tires, OSHA equipment and other costs incidental to operation. 0000005493 00000 n Have a fire aviation news tip? qG4f2v$dlP^~nyH6JQ[c~x(-lCA;r:\00v40pt00 ) -: agency that, more and more, is becoming its own worst enemy, as well as ours! Note, however, that the civil versions of the bi-rotor, Boeing Vertol 234, have been flying against fire, sometimes within the same companies, for many years, with close performances and operational costs equivalent to the AirCrane, ($ 24,000 / day + $ 7394 per flight hour for a CH-47D, $ 22,150 / day + $ 7,776 / per flight hour for a CH-54B, 2016 rate). Just like how the new GM Suburban for Diplomates costs millions of dollars each and the contract went to the one company that can make it. Montana / Dakotas Fire and Aviation, NRCC Category 2 is that of aircraft with 6,000 to 12,500 pounds at take-off and having a water carrying capacity of more than 300 gallons. Furthermore the numbers they provide are usually . The Chinooks were mainly operated with a Bambi Bucket but three companies, Helimax, Columbia Helicopters and Billings, now use internal bunkers developed by subcontractors, including Simplex, a well-known manufacturer of HBE kits, which allows these aircraft to have a higher intervention speed while taking up to 12,000 liters of water internally. While Im sure you and the FS believe that all the operators swim in pool fulls of cash and take $$$$millions home every year, that fact of the matter is that Mother Nature and worsening Contracts just dont allow that to happen, so no one can ever just pay for a new a/c with cash from operations. Great response, fellas. flight plans shall monitor Air Guard. Robinson Helicopter Operating Cost Calculator Aircraft operating cost estimates. You guys (and gals) should possess enough experience to influence how contracts are conceptualized, and bring some common sense back to the process, Nobody should bid, then when everything is on fire and the USFS comes begging then youd have some leverage on them.. PDF Welcome to the Nation's Logistical Support Center | National Federal wildland firefighters say they're burned out after years of low The companies willing to make adjustments will do just that and end up with contracts. Hawaii beats the national average by 4.2%, and Tennessee furthers that trend with another $4,165 (5.9%) above the $71,117. Have a fire aviation news tip? National Exclusive Use Helicopters (Large Fire Support/Initial Attack) DOI Incident Position Qualification Guide (IPQG) AABI. Next Generation Multi-Engine Fixed-Wing Airtankers 3.0 These publications are "specified by more than 47 state departments of transportation," and is "the only privately researched and published equipment rate guide approved by the Federal Highway Administration for use on federally-funded construction projects." Typos or errors, report them HERE. There are two kinds of USFS contracts. Topping the list is Tennessee, with New Jersey and Hawaii close behind in second and third. Under contract this season there are 28 heavyweights, including Kaman KMax, CH-46, CH-47, S-70, CH-54 and S-61 from a dozen companies. The intent of the USFS for acquiring helicopter services for 2022 is as follows: 1. I also assume that the CO just channeled the PM and HSs needs for the program. Financing a new (2000+) aircraft with a one year contract will be the nail in the coffin for most operators considering what they have to sell will get pennies on the dollar. When the helicopter is in position, the crew releases the water to extinguish hot spots. NWCG is the sole source for the publication. Crews from the White River National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, and Aspen Fire executed a prescribed burn at Collins Creek on Sunday. NRCC >>> Logistics / Dispatch >> Aviation Incident Awareness and Assessment (IAA) DOI PROGRAM - ACQUISITION SERVICES. Nevertheless, the aviation branch of the US Forest Service is often seen as a versatile administration, without any long-term vision, with abrupt and sometimes difficult to understand decisions and against which innumerable legal proceedings and even lawsuits are brought by its subcontractors and those who are in line to become one. I say all you vendors simply BOYCOTT the USFS. Why arent fixed wing on CWN awarded a offered daily minimum? In addition the Logistics Branch provides procurement support for eleven National Cachesfor wildland fire suppression and prevention, as well as other emergency incident response activities. Sunrise/Sunset Calculator. Faintly, what are the advertisement you see posted on this site? Do you know anything that can replace a CH-54/S-64 or an S-61? Maybe they could have figured out a better transition, maybe not. PDF Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the and the Subject Smokejumper Aircraft Official websites use .gov Fire fighting tools, food and water are dropped by parachute to the firefighters after they land near the firemaking them self-sufficient for the first 48 hours. I also think your comments are short sighted on Bills pandering to industry. NIFC Janitorial So, because the Forest Service wants to push all but the top tier of their options out, they are essentially putting every government agencys resources at risk. Welcome to the Nation's Logistical Support Center | National . while simultaneously saying that they fully intend on moving to modern helicopters that are built after the year 2000 and are all twin engine. Why is it presented as CWN when it looks like E.U? Bill would rather not take his private industry advertisers $$$, but he should and needs to get paid for the hard work he puts in and he knows you Government boys cant/wont pay him to tell the truth. Base model costs 50k where does the rest go??? AMD-23E v2.0. Additional current information can be accessed on the Interagency Fire UAS Operations website. Forest Service CWN Medium/Heavy Helicopters Fire Suppression Orders 11/1/2021 Through 10/31/2022 DOI OC Small Type III Helicopter - National Park Service Search and Rescue (SAR) (2022) For Alaska/Hawaii Emergency/Fire/SAR task order numbers, please contact Heather Sizick, Lead Contracting Office at 571-479-0323 or Rebecca Fentzke, Division . Application of gel, foam or retardant? In reality the CWN is the same, many times EU ships roll into a day by day CWN extension of their EU contract after the mandatory availability period is over if there are still fires. Unmanned Aerial Supervision(UAS) Program, Delphine Arizana, Contract Specialist TFRs List/Map, Nat'l Typos or errors, report them, Rappeller training in Idaho modified for COVID-19, Contracts to be awarded for 28 Type 1 firefighting helicopters, 41 Companies on $1B Forest Service Helicopter Support Contract, Updates on Nob Fire and WatchDuty is looking for help, North Carolina: Great Lakes Fire burning in footprint of 2012 fire. In other locations they would just shrug their shoulders and walk away. That is just a single hour shy of six. To meet this commitment, we continue to monitor and update our content to make sure our documents meet these standards. Anyone who served in the military knows that Uncle Sam Air is the most inefficient airline in the world, and having worked there is in no way a guarantee that you are the best subject matter expert on anything. There just isnt enough. The banker looks at your household income and job stability. I think you answered your own question with why are they only replacing type II and III legacy platforms and not type I? The only modern type III helicopter we can find that meets the requirement is $6.4m which is triple the value of our 5 type III helicopter fleet (and we own a Type III light twin, its just too old for the Forest Services liking). Incident Procurement Modernization Team Member. Try to pass on the cost of newer more expensive equipment in less than 10 years than the operators fails on the LPTA front. We dont fly in 58Ts (which I saw on exclusive use contract as an unrestricted as late at 2006) Llamas, etc.
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