Gallery: Colorado MAFFS for Oregon wildfires
Technical Sergeant Justin Norton records the US Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System being installed into a 302nd Airlift Wing C-130H Hercules for supplemental firefighting support
In the USA, the Forest Service is responsible for finding, contracting and coordinating private companies to supply airtankers and aerial firefighting support across the country to combat wildfire outbreaks. However, when wildfires are overwhelming local resources and assets, the Forest Service employs Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS). As the name suggests, these are large portable modular systems that can be installed into a platform (such as the military C-130 aircraft) to temporarily convert it into an airtanker, without any major structural modifications. The system can hold 3,000gal (13,638L) of retardant weighing 27,000lb (12,247kg) and drop it all in under five seconds, which is able either to cover an area one-quarter of a mile (400m) long by 100ft (30m) wide, or it can make several smaller drops. It is then able to be refilled in under 12 minutes.
The MAFFS program was created in the early 1970s between the US Forest Service and Department of Defense (DoD). The Forest Service owns the MAFFS equipment and supplies the fire retardant, while the DoD provides the C-130H and J aircraft, flight crews, and maintenance and support personnel to fly the missions.
There are a total of eight MAFFSs that can be used on firefighting missions. The C-130s to fly MAFFS missions are stationed with:
- 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, Port Hueneme
- 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, Reno
- 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne
- 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
The 302nd Airlift Wing has more than 1,300 personnel located at Peterson. The Air Force Reserve Wing trains, equips and employs C-130H forces and is home to the Air Force Reserve’s only aerial firefighting assets.
Pictured is a 302nd Airlift Wing C-130H aircraft at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, is parked and is being loaded with a US Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System unit during preparation to depart for firefighting support near Klamath Falls, Oregon.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
November 2024
Issue
In the AirMed&Rescue November 2024 edition
Special missions often fly in challenging conditions covering large areas, so sensors are used to narrow the search, highlight targets of interest, and perform safer flights, among other benefits; aerial firefighting is facing greater demands upon its resources, so operators and organizations are expanding their assets and abilities with drones that can be flown at a low cost with a high safety margin, allowing the conventional crewed craft to focus on other roles; and the complexity of rear crew winching requires equally complex and involved training to ensure that live missions are conducted successfully and safely.
Plus, we have all of our regular content to keep you informed of the events relating to worldwide special missions.