I'm a volunteer firefighter, and at a recent drill a spokes person from the division of wild life safety came in to talk to my department about forest fires since this is the time of year we tend to get them. Anyways, he showed us a whole power point presentation that included several clips of aerial firefighters. I just recently attained a private pilot license, and am wasting no time trying to get the commercial and instrument ratings.

I asked him about what it takes to get hired to fly, because they apparently have a full time crew. He said you need 1,000 hours because you need a commercial rating and no one can get a commercial rating with less then 1,000 hours. I didn't want to call the guy an idiot for saying that, but obviously he was a little clueless as to what he was saying. And of course you need a commercial rating, any time your going to be paid you need one.

Has anyone ever experienced this line of work or know what kind of experience it takes to land that job? Thanks

 

RD33 -

That sounded like someone trying to give you good information but failing
Here are a few threads from APC that should point you in the right direction. Seems the bad news though might be that it isn't a job for low time pilots.

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/hi...-low-time.html

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/ha...art-137-a.html

USMCFLYR

 

I was a contract pilot for the Forest Service. Most employers want fairly high time to meet part 135 insurance requirements however if you are a forest service employee it is easier to get into their fight department from the inside.

Skyhigh

 

I flew for the Alaska Smoke jumpers back in the early 90's. I still keep in touch with some guys who flying tankers and jumpers.

In a nut shell to get a low level PIC OAS card to fly tankers or jumpers you need the following.

At least 100 hours PIC of an aircraft weighing 12,500 LBS or more.

At least 100 hours PIC operating an aircraft at low level (below 500' AGL)

Verifiable aerial fire or natural resource flying experience preferably 3 seasons minimum.

A multi engine ATP with turbine experience a plus.

Most of the guys you meet out there flying tankers or smoke jumper birds have somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 hours experience.

Most F/O's have a somewhat less than that but WAY more experience than your average regional F/O new hire.

That is for a multi crew heavy bird for a SEAT (Single Engine Air Tanker) you can forget about it unless you have been a full time professional ag pilot flying AT 802's or some such big turbine duster for a minimum of 5 years. Most want 2500 hours PIC in a single turbine at low level with some fire fighting expereince chalked in just for fun.

If you want to fly Tankers or Jumpers your best bet is to build your time and try to get hired on as an F/O.

OH by the way before you get to excited about this kind of flying you need to know that the fatality rate is among the highest of any type of flying in the world including tactical combat flying. And that you better like living in hotel rooms and fire camps as you will be gone for 3 to 5 months out of the year on the road with no breaks. You get 12 on 2 off during your contracted fire season.

The DOW guy you spoke to hasn't the foggiest idea what he is talking about.

 

A friend sent me this link:

page21

I like the way they lay out the requirements for the job. Simple and clear cut.
Sounds tough to break in, but I thought the comment about "having to spend" some time in the OV-10 was strange.......that is where I'd like to be!

USMCFLYR

 

As you sound like you might already have some firefighter certs, that would be the smart route to follow. Make sure everything else you take is "Pro-Board" certified, and get the highest EMT cert you can. High quall EMTs can easily pull over $70k in some areas of the Country. Work for money, fly for fun. You will enjoy it alot more that way.

Z

 

If I could pick anything to do in this industry it would be fire bombing. I know a couple guys that have done it and it does sound fairly impossible to break into. Above, it says 100 hours operating below 500 feet. What counts in there? I flew in western alaska for a while and 500 feet was a normal cruise altitude. Perhaps I should check out these links and maybe change directions here.

 

I worked for a contractor that had both AT802s (Single Engine Air Tankers) and several helicopters. Employer qualifications were basically 1000 hrs in type for the 802s and all forest service basics. The rotor guys were in demand. They would take anybody that could meet insurance and government minimums. Insurance was evaluated on a case by case. However, long line time is extremely important as it is very difficult. It's a very hard business to get into, but there is a lot of demand once you're qualed.

 

they are talking about Ag time, and they are going to want it to have been in an AT-802 or dromadier.