Fire Bomber into Hell by Linc Alexander (3 of 3)

Tyler: Do you have any words of advice for pilots, whether they be general aviation, commercial, military, or fire bomber pilots?

Linc: All of us who fly have a built in problem, our ego. When we as pilots forget about our own weaknesses, failing to keep our pride and ego in check, we risk jeopardizing our own lives, the lives of any passengers we may be carrying, and the lives of others in the air or on the ground.  Going around when our approach is bad to a runway or a fire is bad, is a dent to the ego but we have to keep our weaknesses (pride and ego) in check if we want to think and act rationally when we fly. It’s hard for us gung-ho pilots to think that we can't do anything, but the military says it like it is: “Know your own and the airplane’s limits.” We all aren’t Bob Hoover who does aerobatics with both engines feathered on an Aero Commander. An ex-service friend of mine was asked to do a low-level air show in a T-6 many years after he had left the service. As it had been many years since he had done these precision maneuvers, he was probably out of practice. He decided to do the show, he went into the ground upside down half way through a roll. 

Tyler: What about those of us who are not pilots, is there one thing that you would like us to know about fire bombers as we watch news accounts?

Linc: Becoming a proficient pilot takes many years of practice. Becoming a proficient bomber pilot also takes years of practice. When a run is perfectly executed and the load placed precisely on target, it is easy to get the impression that the whole exercise is a big game that anyone can do. Firstly, not all highly trained pilots can fit in this game. Not many people like flying right next to the mountains all the time. Throw in bad visibility, turbulence and a wall of fire and it sorts out those missing a few marbles who like flying in this zone, and those who choose a more sane way to fly. Also the viewer should realize that the pilots who fly bombers are extremely conscientious about getting good results and saving property and lives. We all feel the loss and grieve for people who lose their home as a result of a wild-fire.  The public should also be aware that most large fires are preventable with the proper use of bombers in the very earliest stages of a fire. There is a vast difference in how agencies use the bomber. At a large fire, the media should ask questions about how bombers were used as soon as the fire was discovered.

I'll wrap this up with some concluding thoughts in my next article. Stay tuned.