Visit to Downstown - AT602 cockpit "drop" controls

The AT-602 is used for both "water bombing" on wildfires as well as agricultural operations such as crop dusting and insect control. Here I am focusing on cockpit controls used when the 602 is used for aerial wild land firefighting.

Before going any further, I am reminded of a phrase that a tanker pilot friend of mine told me a couple of years ago, "there is nothing simple in the tanker business, see I told you it is complicated." And the same can be applied to SEAT operations, or for agricultural operations for that matter.

Ok, the AT 602, Charlie 1 is loaded and she and her pilot are flying to the fire.  Once Charlie 1 is at the fire and is almost ready to drop on the fire, there are a couple of things that happen.

1. The pilot arms the system using arm switch in the hydraulic gate control panel (see photo below).

Downstown Aero Crop Services - AT 602 "Charlie 1"

2. After the system is armed, the pilot sets the quantity and coverage level for the drop in the Del Norte Gate Control Computer (see photo below). My friends at Downstown tell me that the Del Norte Gate Control Computer is used with the Transland Gate System because it gives better control of the gates opening in smaller increments, more so then the Transland Gate Control Computer.

Downstown Aero Crop Services - AT 602 "Charlie 1"

3. Finally, the pilot is at the drop location, and pushes the drop switch on the stick (see photo below). The gates under the fuselage open releasing the water/foam.

Downstown Aero Crop Services - AT 602 "Charlie 1"

What I am not including here is an attention to other important details in making a drop run on the fire, including but not limited to altitude above the fire and speed.

An another note, there are switches that the pilot can use to make an "emergency salvo." By emergency salvo, I am referring a situation when it is necessary to dump the load of water quickly in the event of an emergency in order to lighten the load of the plane. For example, in the event of mechanical or hydraulic problems, getting rid of 600 gallons of water (at 8 pounds per gallon) means lightening the weight of the plane by 4,800 pounds. This could make the difference in getting back on the ground safely.

Next up on May 21: Flying Fires in NJ -- Direct Initial Attack