Many of you may already know that the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) are activated as needed when all contracted firefighting aerial resources are already committed. There are eight C-130’s in the MAFFS program:
- 146th Airlift Wing - California National Guard 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard
- 152 Airlift Wing - Nevada Air National Guard 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard
- 153rd Airlift Wing- Wyoming Air National Guard 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard
- 302nd Airlift Wing Air Force Reserve, Paterson Air Force Base 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force base
MAFFS are important because they provide a “surge” capability that can be used to boost wildfire suppression efforts when contracted airtankers are fully committed or not readily available. They can discharge their entire load of up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide, or make variable drops. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes (Obtained on April 27, 2022 from https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/planes/maffs)
There is a nice article from Task and Purpose (April 24, 2022) focusing on the 302nd Airlift Wing Air Force Reserve speaking to how MAFFs are used to fight wildfires. It is a nice read and I hope you take a few moments read the article. The article provides some additional background on the MAFFs program and how the Air Force crews approach firefighting in their C-130s. Here is an excerpt providing a little more detail on the turn around time for reloading a MAFFS c-130 and flying the fire.
"The maintenance crews waiting at the flightline are trained like a NASCAR pit crew, the officer explained: the plane can land, take on a fresh supply of fire retardant and take off again in as little as 15 minutes. A hard day’s work might involve six to eight drops, but crews have performed as many as 15 in a single day. Remember, each of those drops involves an intense amount of concentration to pull off, but it also requires a significant amount of flexibility, Lt Col Richard Pantusa is the chief of aerial firefighting for the 302nd.
All it takes is the wind to shift 90 degrees and everything we’re working on can be called off,” Pantusa said. For example, if smoke blows over the drop zone, it might limit visibility, which makes it too dangerous for MAFFS crews to fly into. Luckily they do not fly alone: it’s standard procedure for C-130s and other firefighting aircraft to follow a smaller lead plane, often flown by federal or state pilots, which makes sure the conditions and wind speed are good and that the escape route is clear for the aircraft to climb back up.
“They show us where the retardant goes, we fly right behind him,” Pantusa said. “They help before you take a 150,000-pound aircraft through.”
As I write this I believe that annual training for MAFFS is underway, after which MAFFS will be ready to be deployed to wildfires if the call comes. Thank-you to the pilots and crews of the C-130 MAFFS for your service. Be safe.
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