TUCSON, Ariz. - A new era in firefighting for the National Guard and Reserves began here this week during the annual certification and training for Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, known as MAFFS.
For the first time in more than 30 years, the original MAFFS systems are being replaced by a second-generation design, which is more effective, more efficient and safer, officials said.
"This is the first really major advancement in MAFFS technology, since we started the program back in the early 70's," said Col. Paul Hargrove, the 146th Airlift Wing commander. "With these firefighting assets, we now have the most modern fleet of military firefighting aircraft in the world and are ready to respond when needed."
The U.S. Forest Service recently purchased the new aerial firefighting equipment known as MAFFS 2. For the first time this week, the system was integrated into annual certification and training alongside the legacy MAFFS system.
The aircraft platform for the MAFFS mission, the C-130, has undergone many improvements and modifications over the years, but the original legacy MAFFS system has remained virtually unchanged until now.
"The MAFFS 2 with its built-in, on-board compressor system saves time and money by eliminating the need for ground support compressors, adding flexibility to where aircraft can land to reload retardant before their next drop," said Lynn Ballard, public information officer for the U.S. Forest Service.
Engineering designs also reduced the amount of retardant splashed on the exterior of the plane during aerial drops, which saves time and money previously spent on cleaning excess retardant from the plane, he said.
In development since 2000, a prototype model of the new system was used in firefighting missions around California last summer. Since then the U.S. Forest Service has purchased nine MAFFS 2 units, and both the 146th AW of the California Air National Guard and the 302nd AW, an Air Force Reserve unit based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., have full complements of MAFFS 2 qualified aircrews ready to be called upon when needed.
The 153rd AW of the Wyoming Air National Guard and the 145th AW of the North Carolina National Guard will migrate to the new system when resources become available to make that happen, officials said.
The MAFFS 2 units are designed to roll into and out of C-130 aircraft, including the newest J-model. These removable units include a tank that holds up to 3,000 gallons of retardant and an air compressor, allowing the retardant to spray out of a large nozzle placed out of the left paratroop door.
MAFFS 2 is also now capable of utilizing various new advancements in retardant technology, which are injected into the retardant fluid as it is dispensed. New safety features and greater retardant coverage levels are included in the system's list of improvements.
This year's certification and training here at the Tucson International Airport involved more than 300 military and 100 civilian agency personnel, including the U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Coronado National Forest and Aero Union Corp., manufacturer of the firefighting units.
"The training was a huge success this year," said Lt. Col. Bryan Allen, MAFFS pilot and the 146th's deputy commander. "Aerial firefighting is a serious an unforgiving endeavor.
Being able to practice and hone our skills each year alongside the agencies we activate with sharpens our proficiency, so we are ready and able to execute the mission safely."
MAFFS is a partnership between federal land management agencies and the military to provide supplemental air tankers to assist in fire suppression efforts nationwide during times of high fire activity. There are two units assigned to each of four military wings, with a total of eight aircraft available to support civilian agencies when needed.
Since 1974, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve pilots have flown 6,500 firefighting missions, dropping 167 million pounds of fire retardant around the western United States, officials said.