SACRAMENTO, Calif., The flight line here at McClellan Airfield may be miles away from the front lines of the many wildfires in California, yet the Airmen here are giving firefighters on the ground the upper hand in battling the blazes across the state.
The modular airborne firefighting system (MAFFS)-equipped C-130s of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group drop fire retardant where it's needed. The aircraft also provide a moral boost for the firefighters on the ground as they work to extinguish the fires.
Thom Porter from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) said having the MAFFS-equipped C-130s at McClellan is a valuable resource for firefighters in helping slow down the spread of the wildfires.
"Aerial retardant [that the MAFFS equipped C-130s drop] slows the spread of the fire so effectively, it can reduce the size of a fire that a ground crew has to deal with," Porter said. "Aircraft do not put out fires, firefighters on the ground do. And in order for firefighters on the ground to put out fires, oftentimes the aerial resources we are using allow that to happen."
The requirement for aerial support is determined by the incident commanders on the ground. "The need for aircraft is determined at the incident," Porter said. "The [incident commanders] will determine if they need a big aircraft, a small aircraft or helicopter."
He emphasized that the ground crews get a big boost when they know that there is air support ready to assist.
"You may be out on the fire line and as a firefighter, just knowing that something is coming or seeing something over the ridge is a very comforting feeling," Porter said.
Darlene Mullins, the MAFFS liaison officer with the U.S. Forest Service, said MAFFS aircrews appreciate the positive feedback from the front line firefighters.
"It is neat to hear that feedback, because sometimes when you are at a base managing aircraft like this, you don't get that kind of feedback," Mullins said. "It is nice to hear that, and it really makes the pilots pretty jazzed up about the mission."
Lt. Col. Michael Barkdull, a mission commander with the 153rd Airlift Wing of the Wyoming Air National Guard, said flying a MAFFS mission is very exciting and dangerous at the same time.
"I think it's the most thrilling thing that I do," Barkdull said. "It's one of those things gets your blood going and your adrenaline up. It kind of scares you a little bit."
Barkdull said that a MAFFS aerial firefighting mission takes the C-130 to its limits. "This is a big airplane, a lot of mass and momentum going on, and you have to slow the airplane down just on the edge of what is the stall speed for the aircraft."
Prior to a fire retardant drop, a lead plane guides the MAFFS-equipped C-130 to the location of the drop site. Then both the lead plane and the C-130 perform a practice run on the drop area.
"We have what is called a show-me run, where our lead plane pilot [in a smaller plane] shows us where he wants us to drop," Barkdull said. "He describes the start point and where he wants the line to run and advises us on wind conditions and hazards.
"On the actual run, we tighten up close to the lead plane slowing down to 120 or less knots right before we push over a steep mountain ridge. Once the plane starts down the ridge, it starts moving very fast due to the weight. When the weight comes off [as we drop fire retardant], we pull up. It is quite a thrill ride."