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One has to write to the audience who butters their bread! Well said Maghreb.sadly, doing so would guarantee financial disaster/bankruptcy for the industry while also ensuring that the country and its citizens in fire prone states would be without helos for many more years than just one season.I do love the idea as it would send a message for suremaybe a few calls to the White House make sense here? USFS R8 / USFWS R4 Annual Operating Plan for the use of the AS350B2 Helicopter. Lots more. They simply never had to deal with these considerations.
The US Forest Service's Aerial Firefighting Helicopters Calculator, GPS
Great response, fellas.
What Is Helicopter Flight Instructor Salary by State? To request access to this page, submit request to, Forest Service Acquisition Management Incident Procurement, Solicitations on Federal Business Opportunities, Flight Rate Charts Effective February 16, 2021for contracts awarded 2013-2017, Flight Rate Charts Effective February 16, 2021 for contracts awarded 2018-2021, Crews Type 2 IA, Standard Form 1449, 2022 Summary, National Type 2-IA Crew COR Designation Letter, National Type 2-IA Crew Performance Evaluation, Type 2 Crew Generic Agreement 1202SC21Q0001, 2020 COVID-19 Modification for Mobile Shower Facilities, Mobile Shower Performance Evaluation Form, 2020 COVID-19 Modification for Mobile Food Services, Retardant Contractor Performance Evaluation Form, Retardant Contracts COR Designation Letters, National Mobile Shower COR Designation Letter, National Long Term Fire Retardant Contract. That is just a single hour shy of six. Faintly, what are the advertisement you see posted on this site? The USFS, forestry branch of the Ministry of Agriculture, is in charge of the protection of the largest natural areas, it is also the body that is officially in charge of this function at the national level. The arrogance and dismissal by the FS with most questions being answered Noted, Language will remain as written just adds frustration to irritation. 0000010826 00000 n
Your input here is really helpful. These are not the usual 4 years contracts that should be announced soon. U.S. Forest Service.
PDF CWN Helicopter Procurement Comparison Wont the guaranteed hours for a contract be a exclusive use. A minimum of 100 gallons of extinguishing products, water or retardant, must be able to be conveyed by these machines.
A 212 is a twin, performs better than a 412 is all aspects but is a little older and only has two blades. What do you do with an expensive asset like a helo when youre only customer suggests to just not submit? It seems nothing is making sense anymore, and we are destined to fail if this shortsightedness is allowed to continue. For point-to-point flights, AFF flight following may be used as well. Well not quite, imho. The USFS did not get the number of LATs they assumed they would, I know it shocked them. Visualizer - Convert Coordinates, Airtankers, Helicopters, Long-term Retardant Contracts, FAA
Flight Rate Hourly Daily Availability # OF UNITS TOTAL COST Exclusive Use Helicopters Type 1 HEL1 $ 4,290 $ 13,950 Type 2 HEL2 $ 1,760 $ 5,030 Type 3 HEL3 $ 1,050 $ 2,325 Call When Needed Helicopters Type 1 HEL1 $ 4,200 $ 26,600 Type 2 HEL2 $ 1,960 $ 7,150 . USFS R8-R5 Operating Plan.
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approved helmets for helicopter use as note to emphasize., 9; Helicopter, add table . Smokejumperstravel all over the country, including Alaska, to provide highly-trained, experienced firefighters and leadership for quick initial attack on wildland fires in remote areas.
These CWN have a number of day to end of termination clause. %%EOF
A quick peruse through that Q&A shows that dozens of operators really gasped when this RFP came out. In each case, only the first year is guaranteed. Although Type 3 helicopters are smaller, they have a higher cruise speed than a typical Type 2 helicopter and can arrive on the scene of an initial attack wildfire faster. Apart from a few military helicopters mobilized occasionally and only as reinforcement, most of the air assets used to fight fires in the US are the work of countless more or less specialized aerial work companies, who each have very varied means. You must be USFS this sounds exactly like the Q&A session Language will remain as written. Office: (208) 387-5695 Mobile: (208) 860-7334 There are still going to be normal cwn helicopters. NIFC is home to the national fire management programs of each federal fire agency, along with partners including the National Association of State Foresters, the U.S. Fire Administration, and the National Weather Service. agency that, more and more, is becoming its own worst enemy, as well as ours! Some Type 1 helicopters can also transport up to 15 personnel to an incident. Incident Awareness and Assessment (IAA) DOI PROGRAM - ACQUISITION SERVICES. Others are only used to drop water or fireretardant, ormove firefighting supplies and equipment. I can see daily availability rates sky rocketing, which it sounds like is expected. Basic Ordering Agreements (BOAs) for 28 - Type 1 helicopters having 120-day mandatory availability periods. There is a question and answer phase that allows anyone to submit questions and the answers will be posted on the SAM site. Several vendors opted for EU contracts with states instead of the USFS. Anyone else seeing a trend, that they like to spend money on the most expensive piece of equipment they can find, including fixed wings. In reality the CWN is the same, many times EU ships roll into a day by day CWN extension of their EU contract after the mandatory availability period is over if there are still fires. "Today is a day of zeros, zero rate of spread, zero flame length, zero probability of ignition and zero fire growth." . 9-Mar-2021 Source: Fire Aviation. Light Operational Loads Monitoring Systems (OLMS) For an operator to be competitive in the LPTA world, you need to amortize the cost of the a/c over 10 years or more. NWCG typing standards enable accurate ordering and acquisition of needed resources in support of nationally interoperable wildland fire operations. Large, heavy-lift helicopters can fill their water tanks with a snorkel that siphons water from lakes, rivers, or other sources. Toggle Dyslexia-friendly black-on-creme color scheme, Aerial wildland fire training taking place this week at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Military aircraft equipped with MAFFS mobilized to assist with wildfire suppression efforts, First Annual National Wildland Firefighter Day Announced, BLM and Maverik Partner to Reduce Human-Caused Wildfires, Aerial wildland fire training taking place in Boise april 25-29, Andrus Center for Public Policy and Partners Seek National Student Congress Address Wildland Fire Management, National Interagency Incident Communications Division, National Incident Management Organization. The Incident Support Branch (ISB) at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) is located in Boise, Idaho. The companies willing to make adjustments will do just that and end up with contracts. N/A = Not applicable Smokejumper Aircraft What do you do with an expensive asset like a helo when youre only customer suggests to just not submit? So given that the PM and the HS are both aviation folks, this means that they have certain goals that they are trying to achieve given the shape that the Solicitation is taking. Vendors reserve the right to refuse service to the customer that is rude, arrogant and disrespectful. Type 3 Helicopters Although Type 3 helicopters are smaller, they have a higher cruise speed than a typical Type 2 helicopter and can arrive on the scene of an initial attack wildfire faster.
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MSH confirms additional launch customer in Norway. These helicopters can support firefighters on the ground by delivering up to 300 gallons of water to thefirelinein a bucket or tank. Financing a new (2000+) aircraft with a one year contract will be the nail in the coffin for most operators considering what they have to sell will get pennies on the dollar. Initial attack/can be broken up into squads, fireline construction, firing to include burnout. That means NO helitack, NO rappelers, ONLY flight crew and bucket work. Horsepower rating taken at the flywheel with all the engine accessories installed not counting transmission losses or anything after the flywheel. What replaces the 212? Access to the U.S. Forest Service Contracting, Incident Support Branch, DOI SharePoint Page must be granted individually. Center
Office: (208) 387-5835 Mobile: (208) 407-6002 Large Jet Transport Southern Area Master Interagency Agreement. %%EOF
Incident Business System. Region 6 Cache Freight Services, Bryce Pitchford,Contracting Officer A 407 isnt a twin, even tho a 407hp will outperform all the above as a type III. The S-70 could work but again, at what cost? PRINT NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200, M-581, Fire Program Management Course Steering Committee, M-582, AA Advanced Wildland Fire Course Steering Committee, Committee Roles and Membership Information, Course Steering Committee Guidance & Templates, International Association of Fire Chiefs Roster, National Association of State Foresters Roster, Alternative Pathways to NWCG Qualification, Incident Performance Training Modernization (IPTM), Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program, NWCG Data Standard: Fire Resource Kind, Category, and Type, Incident and Position StandardsCommittee, Standards forInteragency Hotshot Crew Operations, Retardant or water-carrying capability (gal), Maximum gross takeoff and landing weight (lb). Give me a break. Try to pass on the cost of newer, more expensive equipment in less than 10 years, than the operator fails on the LPTA front b/c his day rate will be too high. AMD-23E Instructions for USFS National Type 1 & 2 Call When Needed (CWN) Contract Helicopters hired for DOI Incidents.
List of air tankers on USFS contracts - Fire Aviation Aviation Management, USDA
The so-called exclusive contracts make it possible to reserve the contracted aircraft for the USFS missions for the duration of the fire seasons. However, multi-year contacts must also include an aspect of a cancellation ceiling which must be funded up front. Region 6 Cache Freight Services The U.S. Forest Service has awarded 90-day contracts for an 22 additional helicopters that can lift at least 3,300 or 7,000 pounds. We all understand that. PDF Fillable Forms must be downloaded to your computer, you can then open them up in your Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat software to fill them in and save. Yes, the customer is the FS. National Call-When-NeededHelicopters (Large Fire Support/Initial Attack)Flight Rate Charts Effective February 16, 2021for contracts awarded 2013-2017Flight Rate Charts Effective February 16, 2021 for contracts awarded 2018-2021Region 5 Aviation Oh and theres a reason for the price difference, all the vendors you see with blackhawks have restricted category aircraft. endstream
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I am concerned that it will reduce resources in a way that will harm the communitys we generally get to help. Not entirely true.why would a state find the funding to contract with a LAT provider??? Have a fire aviation news tip? No wonder there is absolutely no concern about the financial impact of this proposal. In other locations they would just shrug their shoulders and walk away. Each bucket has a release valve on the bottom controlled by the helicopter crew. Maybe all of the experienced aviation folks you mention are part of this have never actually had to buy a multi-million a/c, maintain it, crew it and ensure that its safely operable? So do we get balanced journalism here. Just need to add, Mama told me the customer is always right. The Forest Service was looking for 10 helicopters in each tier, if available, with Mandatory Availability Periods commencing on either June 1stor June 15th. 0000074247 00000 n
Office: (208) 387-5682 Mobile: (208) 407-6003, Andrea Marks-Cash, Contract Specialist Type 1 helicopters are the largest, fastest flying and the most expensive helicopters used on wildland fires.
U.S. Forest Service Contracting | US Forest Service So, because the Forest Service wants to push all but the top tier of their options out, they are essentially putting every government agencys resources at risk.
Helicopters | National Interagency Fire Center Typos, let us know, and please keep in mind the commenting ground rules before you post a comment. Type 2 helicopters are very effective initial attack resources. Less publicized than the Tanker, US Forest Service helicopters are front-line aircraft with an essential and fundamental mission. They are usually contracted for 5 years. Try to pass on the cost of newer more expensive equipment in less than 10 years than the operators fails on the LPTA front. Type 3 engines and tactical water tenders shall be equipped with a foam proportioner system. - IR Scanner Orders, Sunrise/Sunset
The Forest Service also has helicopters on Call When Needed contracts, on the hope that they will be available when the phone rings. The Logistics Branch provides support for WO Fire & Aviation Operations customers (located at NIFC) with the procurement of (urgent/immediate)incidentresources, such as retardant chemicals and related services, mobile food services, mobile shower facilities, firefighting crews, Critical Incident Stress Management Services (CISM) and National Videographer/Photographer Services. While Im sure you and the FS believe that all the operators swim in pool fulls of cash and take $$$$millions home every year, that fact of the matter is that Mother Nature and worsening Contracts just dont allow that to happen, so no one can ever just pay for a new a/c with cash from operations. For aircraft in the first two categories, fire-fighting equipment consists of efficient and versatile ventral kits or a Bambi Bucket. Aircraft carded by USFS/OAS? Anyone who served in the military knows that Uncle Sam Air is the most inefficient airline in the world, and having worked there is in no way a guarantee that you are the best subject matter expert on anything. Comments, questions, and recommendations shall be submitted to the appropriate agency representative assigned to the steward for each resource. Companies like Columbia and Erickson are considered too big now. Nope. The Incident Command System (ICS) uses this system based on the equipment capability. Fire managers recognized the value of helicopters to rapidly transport personnel and cargo to a fire, especially in remote locations. They never seem to be logical ! Office: (208) 387-5665 Mobile: (208) 616-5549, NIFC Operations Support Ordering instructions contained within each contract or agreement should be followed. The only modern type III helicopter we can find that meets the requirement is $6.4m which is triple the value of our 5 type III helicopter fleet (and we own a Type III light twin, its just too old for the Forest Services liking). Instead of a quick turn around of a week after the invoice closes- the new payment procedure has us waiting the full 30 days. Office: (208) 387-5231 Mobile: (208) 991-7639, Larry Robillard,Contracting Officer When the SMEs include pilots who had a previous career in the military, also Aviation Maintenance Inspectors who previously worked as mechanics in industry and the military, I do not think the label of career beaurocrart quite fits. Us, Northern Rockies Coordination
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Video of two Type 1 helicopters reloading with retardant, 41 Companies on $1B Forest Service Helicopter Support Contract, Updates on Nob Fire and WatchDuty is looking for help, North Carolina: Great Lakes Fire burning in footprint of 2012 fire. Theres the rub! We really love being on Team USFS. Live Flight Tracking, Rappel
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Secure .gov websites use HTTPS NWCG operations standards are interagency by design; they are developed with the intent of universal adoption by the member agencies. When determining the hourly rate, agencies should utilize the appropriate rate category. They can be fitted with tanks or buckets to deliver water and fire retardant to the fireline. I do not know of any small operators who can afford to buy new ships, if any are even available. The West coast of America was once again hit by fires this year, the intensity and devastation of which have rarely been seen so far, even though the 2017 season had already been long and dramatic. Say goodbye to the 205 and 212, its brand new 412EPXs or nothing.
Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations