Reflections from Observing a NJ Forest Fire Service Aviation Safety Meeting

The other day I has privileged to be invited to sit in as a guest at the NJ Forest Fire Service's (NJFFS) air safety meeting held at Vineland-Downstown Airport in Vineland, NJ.The meeting that I sat in was held in the morning for ground fire fighters, pilots, tanker base personnel, fire observers, and the contractor. I did not attend the pilots recurrency training that was held in the afternoon.

Downstown Aero Crop Service based at Vineland-Downstown Airport (28N) has been providing contract fixed-wing aircraft (SEATs) to the NJ Forest Fire Service since 1967.  Four single engine airtankers (SEATs) will be on duty during the 2012 spring fire season, with each of the three Divisions in the NJ Forest Fire Service having one SEAT. Division A (northern NJ) is the sole exception where two SEATs will be on call for a two week period in April. As of March 6, 2012 the schedule is as follows:

Division A: Aeroflex
Alpha 2 300 AgCat March 26-May 4 (40 days)
Alpha 3 300 AgCat April 7-April 21 (14 days)

Division B: Coyle
Bravo 1 602 Air Tractor March 31 - May 7 (38 days)

Division C: Downstown
Charlie 1 602 Air Tractor March 30 - May 6 (38 days)

SEATs sometimes cross into another Division, when that happens an AgCat will placed in service so that no Division is left unprotected.

Readers of this blog will know that safety is very big deal in wildland fire fighting, whether it be on the ground or in the air. Annual training, sometimes known as recurrency training is important for both ground firefighters and aerial firefighters. I'd like to take a few moments to share some of my impressions and reflections with you.

I was struck by the commitment of everyone in the room (actually a hanger) to safety. Its hard to explain, but I felt like safety was "in the air" in the hanger that morning. Safety, the firefighters on the ground and the pilots working together so that they are safe. All the firefighters being safe while they are doing their jobs of putting out wildland fires and keeping NJ safe.

Communications. Safety is about communications. Going over the radio frequencies used by all divisions in the NJFFS including air to ground. Everyone working the fire knows the frequency being used. Air to ground, the frequencies that the ground firefighters use to talk to the pilots. Thinking before engaging the mic on the radio, using standard terminology that is clear and concise. The importance of listening first to be sure that no one else is using the same frequency. Get a new frequency if the one being used is congested and being sure that all know what the new frequency is. Ground fire fighters give references to the pilots based on the direction that the aircraft is traveling.

Everyone, firefighters on the ground, base personnel, and pilots work together to be sure that aircraft operations are safe. The pilot has ultimate responsibility for the safety of the aircraft. Aviation safety starts with a safe aircraft, that is operated in safe manner.

Review of airports that aircraft can use for refueling. In particular airports with jet fuel A used by the Airtractor 602. You can't get more basic then having fuel for the aircraft and knowing where available fuel is.