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Home > News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Equipment Issues Ground C-130 Firefighting Aircraft

Equipment Issues Ground C-130 Firefighting Aircraft

Senator Dianne Feinstein Calls Delay Unacceptable

By Michael P. Neufeld
Monday, May 19, 2008

Washington, D.C. – California Senator Dianne Feinstein has sent a strongly worded letter to President George W. Bush after she learned two California Air National Guard C-130 aircraft probably wouldn't join the state's firefighting aircraft arsenal this year.

"This is unacceptable," California senior Senator wrote in a letter sent to the White House late last week. "As a result, millions of California citizens and the Western United States will face the catastrophic wildfire threat without these critical firefighting tools."

Two Califoria Air National Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft, like this Air Force version, need to be equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System, so they can join California's fleet of aircraft to help combat wildfires. (Photo by US Air Force Tech Sgt Rick Sforza.)

Feinstein explained in the correspondence the US Forest Service had promised Congress the planed would be outfitted with the new equipment in July. The C-130 aircraft have about a 3,000-gallon capacity.

"California is hot and dry," Feinstein's office stated in a news release announcing an additional $450 million for federal firefighting and fire-prevention efforts, "and fire officials say the state is in for another long and challenging fire season this year. So there's critical need in California, and other fire-prone states, for this important new funding.

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) (Photo by Staff.)

Senator Feinstein, who serves as chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, has played a key role in helping secure additional federal fire funding along with Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands).

Friday's approved funding was sought in part to replenish the coffers of the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, drained by extreme fires in many parts of the United States last year. In addition, according to Feinstein's office, California wildfires that began in October 2007 had threatened to force both agencies to exhaust their FiscalYear 2008 funding long before the fiscal year came to a close.

Last year, CalFire was criticized because during several fires military firefighting aircraft was left sitting on the ground because the agency didn't have enough spotters to help pilots position water drops from military helicopters.

CalFire recently announced there are now about 35 trained spotters available and that there is a pool of over 50 trainees to meet demands for the so-called "managers."

Cal Fire adopted the spotter policy as a safety measure to assist military pilots communicate with firefighters on the ground during water drops.

CalFire is also reportedly considering lifting their ban on night flying by water-dropping helicopters.

San Diego city and county officials—both lawmakers and firefighters—have urged Cal Fire to immediately lift the ban on night flying.

Cal Fire Director Ruben Grijalva has previously explained to the news media that the night ban is rooted in safety concerns.

The current policy states "all assigned aircraft shall cease incident operations…no later than 30 minutes after sunset."

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