For an F/O pt 125 mins are basically a commercial with instrument rating and appropriate cat and class ratings. So yeah I guess you are right.

here are some pretty good vids.

The first one shows a full effort fire with helitack, basket work, paracargo, ground teams and tankers.

THE DROP ZONE -- Compilation from the 2008 Fire Season - YouTube


Casa cargo drop - YouTube


Paracargo Drop - YouTube


CV-580 Airtanker - YouTube
Firecat Action - YouTube

@Airhoss

That sounds like it would be a major adrenaline rush. What I'd give to do that for awhile.

Good stuff I meant to say Pt. 135 lol. Thanks

Ditto

135.245 Second in command qualifications.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), no certificate holder may use any person, nor may any person serve, as second in command of an aircraft unless that person holds at least a commercial pilot certificate with appropriate category and class ratings and an instrument rating. For flight under IFR, that person must meet the recent instrument experience requirements of part 61 of this chapter.

NEVER ASK WHY HOSS! :p Just enjoy!

Orbits -
I saw this aircraft on the deck at KABI today (N14447).
I didn't see any crews around to talk to but they had quite a few aircraft on the ramp. Hope this stirs the blood up some for you.

Photos: Lockheed SP-2H Neptune Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

USMCFLYR

Heck Yeah FLYR-great shots-Blood stirred up...Actually it's in the blender and the setting is on 'frappe.' I am so glad to have this 'thread goin on!'

Thanks for sharing those awesome vids Hoss-some of the action brings back some great memories and the rest reassures my will to fly that stuff! Psyched!

Hey Airhoss-I was reading through all these awesome post again and concluded that I should clarify that I'm up over 1000 hrsTT and 400 of those are flying skydivers. I noticed my initial post perhaps insinuated that I was 400TT- Just for facts sake-I thought I'd clarify. I've had a blast lookin at the vids-Thanks Tons.

A Great Airtanker Video - YouTube

I just watched this one and thought it was really good if you didn't pick it out of the line-up from the previous videos Orbits.

Hoss - I didn't realize that they seem to used more for blocking actions and setting up some sort of breaks than actually dropping on the fire for suppression.

Of a funny note - at time 3:20 I thought I was watching video of myself when I first started using the manual trim in the King Air :D:o

USMCFLYR

SmokeJumper Pilot
 

As I mentioned before I blindly sent a cover letter and resume as I did every fall to 200 companies all over the nation. I did not know anyone at the company nor did I ever speak to anyone who worked there prior to getting the call. My name got pulled out of the hat because I had a lot of part 135 Alaska time.

I spent many years stuck in the bush flying various jobs. One of the jobs I did in Alaska was as a Alaska Department of Forestry contract pilot. I flew an Aero Commander in air attack, fire spotting and transport. The Smokejumper thing was a bridge for me to get out of Alaska. It was turbine time at a company that was from the lower 48 but still flew much of its year in Alaska. In turn I was a valuable asset to them because I knew how to operate in the bush and had experience with most of the places we eventually went.

I knew how to fly low and slow and held an attitude of self reliance that bush pilots develop. After my contracted season was up I was able to get a job at a lower 48 Learjet operator. I could have stayed flying smokejumpers and made a career out of it however the pay was not all that great when compared to a legacy airline job and you are literally gone for 4 to 7 months in a row.

Life on the road like that is hard. You can not even take care of a houseplant let alone a wife and kids. It does not stop either. That schedule goes on for year after year. No water skiing days at the lake. No more 4th of July celebrations with old friends. Every summer from then on is about sitting in the ready room and going to the next fire. Everyone I worked with fantasized about getting out. Most did, a few wisely realized that they had reached the top of their personal ladder and stayed. They were not married and had something about them that limited their career progression.

A good book on the subject is "Jumping Fire" by Murry Taylor. I personally knew the author and many of the people in the book. He wrote much of it during my time flying them and I am involved with one story he writes about. A very good read for anyone but especially for those who are interested in smokejumper flying. The author does a good job of describing the hardships that a life on the road like that takes upon a person.

Smokejumper flying is romantic and fun but really does not lead anywhere.

Skyhigh