How Aerial Firefighter Pilots Are Trained | What It Takes

Aerial firefighters go through intense training before they're ready to fight active wildfires from the sky. Government agencies like the US Forest Service and state governments contract Bridger Aerospace to provide the planes and pilots used to battle blazes that threaten property and human life. We spent three days with Bridger's training team in Mesa, Arizona, where a new class of pilots and technicians trained for the 2021 fire season in the company's signature firefighting aircraft known as the Super Scooper. This $30 million "flying boat" scoops up 1,400 gallons of water before deploying it on an area affected by a wildfire.
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How Aerial Firefighter Pilots Are Trained | What It Takes

[@gormauslander]

The engineers really liked that 30 number. "Make it weigh 30,000lbs. Make it 30' tall. Make it $30M." "Sir, the wingspan can't be 30' " "Multiply it by 3"

[@arnom1885]

30 meters :+)

[@gormauslander]

@@arnom1885 oh shoot, you right. It's 28.38 m but that's almost 30

[@tonyfourpaws4511]

this needs 300 likes

[@extremeencounter7458]

@@arnom1885 Well, since he said 30’ (feet) times 3 (90 feet) which is 27.4 meters, almost dead on.

[@sathingupta9443]

299 LIKES… ONE MORE

[@douglasgault5458]

I saw these guys in action when I volunteered as a firefighter in a huge fire. We were down in a tight canyon. These guys would fly in at a right angle to the canyon. As they came over the ridge they would drop and hug the terrain while banking into a hard left. While dropping their load on target everytime. One of the best Arial acts I've ever seen. Better than close air support in Nam. These guys were great!

[@ethenallen1388]

It's a little mind blowing trying to imagine being the first person to write the procedures for something like this.

[@Bartonovich52]

Written in blood. A lot of people died before procedures were in place.

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

It probably wasn't that bad to be honest. It's a fairly simple procedure, you just have to know how long it takes to fill the tank and how far that translates over the water. As with any kind of aircraft testing, you start off small and work your way up. You begin with a low speed taxi and drop the scoop, then note any changes. Step up to a higher speed taxi and repeat. Finally you work your way up to the speed they currently use, and after that it's just a matter of incorporating it into a touch and go procedure. If you run into trouble, you have two options....lift the scoop power off and come to a stop, or dump the load and fly away. That's not to say it's an easy thing to do, but there are ways to mitigate risk when developing a new procedure.

[@email4664]

@@Skinflaps_Meatslapper B-17 never had a "scoop" to refill. They also never had turboprops. They also never had 95 foot wingspan. I might add, that they take twice the crew size as well, for this task, so the loss of life when they prangued into the hillsides was much higher.

[@scorpionpilot9446]

This is the type of videos I subbed for.

[@aidbuilds6285]

SAME!!

[@sammylacks4937]

I would like to add , here in NC the terrain allows for bulldozers pulling a plow to dig a trench that can alone stop the fire. Only on bad fires that coincide with dry weather, winds and heavy fuel woodlands are aerial drops used. They like to use a natural firebreak if available, such as a road , then use fireplow on fire side or both if time permits then do a reinforcement drop from the air. Fire has its ups and downs with fuel , wind even humidity. You try to hit it hard when its down. Its been years since I have been underneath a plane that looks to big and to close to the treetops roaring over. The members of the NCFS always spoke with respect about the firefighters out West and Cali in particular. They are I was told the best.

[@jayk.8192]

As an Air Attack my hat is off to the Scooper pilots and crews. I'm talking ro the Hotshots on the ground, who are deep in the shit, and they're telling me where they need water. I then communicate with the Scooper pilot, give them a clearance and target description and they have to come up with a pilotage solution to get water on target. Sometimes terrain, viz, bad air, DA etc preclude a fixed wing drop but these guys never cease to amaze me. Cheers.

[@PBHProductions]

Imagine being a fish just chilling in the ocean and then a plane picks you up.

[@Belioyt]

I think I have heard/seen a movie/news report of such a thing; someone was scoped up while swimming by an airplane and dumped.

[@viggovogt9312]

@@Belioyt its a myth

[@kthm4095]

Finding Nemo bushfire edition

[@diesellozano7874]

Imagine you’re house burning down an someone complaining about fish

[@justaorangewithapeel7986]

@Baron So (Grade 2) alway look on the bright side Pun intended

[@dropbearknives4831]

In Australia, during the big forests fires a few years ago now, we had the fire helicopters, hired from California I think it was. Those teams were a welcome sight, going to and from the various hot spots. When ever we heard them I'd call my kids out to admire their design and wave at the flight crews. A hearty thx to All fire fighters on the ground and in the air. 👍

[@need8394]

That's what every CEO should be like, doing stuff that everyone does.

[@lonewolf6364]

Ex Seal, badass to the bone!

[@saeteune1918]

@@lonewolf6364 Fr I was like why does this guy look like some special forces dude and the next thing they say is that he’s A MF NAVY SEAL lmao

[@lonewolf6364]

@@saeteune1918 hell yeah! How good!!

[@AikonikBoy]

"Never command anything you can't do yourself" - Edward Carter

[@powermonkey500]

I bet the other half of the reason he's in that position is because he wanted to play with big toys

[@jameslowe5137]

Respect to these guys , my dads in the army and he has had to jump out of planes and stuff like that , but never over fire

[@Belioyt]

Have you heard of smoke jumpers?

[@jameslowe5137]

@@Belioyt yeah , those guys are crazy but necessary !

[@Belioyt]

@@jameslowe5137 yes they are, it takes hard men to do hard things. Men of steel.

[@XcylLencioco]

Yes I’ve been waiting for this coz its my dream to be a pilot and i want to be a aerial fire fighter

[@finnbirkeland128]

nice bro

[@SHA-NN-ON]

All the best :) You got this!

[@adventuroussloth4907]

Nice! I’m gonna be a swat officer

[@Android-fo3tk]

Good luck bro! If you can dream it, you can achieve it!

[@notme9187]

@@adventuroussloth4907 ok

[@sailorgregor]

the pilots are amazing. I was working for the Forest Service in N. Idaho in the summers '70-73, and I saw first hand a tree-top level B-17 (out of Missoula) drop nearly right on top of us. Awesome experience. These purpose built planes are well-realized and that they use 737 up to a DC10 and fly them all essentially in 'ground attack' surely has to involve the most situationally aware piloting skills. My hat is off to all of them.

[@nonameuno9394]

I've seen this plane on my nearby lake taking on water in gnarly white cap conditions getting water to fight a lightning strike fire. So freaking windy and these guys were still doing it. It was amazing to watch.

[@lilshrtt7545]

When h hear this narrators voice, yk the vid is gna be good

[@susanschofield2705]

This is the most flying fun you can have without killing anybody, but actually saving people!

[@howardcroft3748]

I think you should consider taking up aerobatic flying... might be safer for the rest of us

[@tsnaudex]

literally cannot think of a job more cool.

[@Kyle-cr7ho]

Secretary ;)

[@worm3165]

@@Kyle-cr7ho Eh, kinda lame compare to aerial firefighting

[@tristando9990]

Astronaut

[@brandonaviationhd]

Fighter pilot?

[@cupricqiviut8265]

@@Kyle-cr7ho TRUE

[@WilsonLove.]

For some reason this video is so satisfying

[@aimaniskandar476]

@Business Insider scam

[@emeraldzebra9360]

I remember being on a Spanish beach years ago where a 4 prop engine aircraft doing this in the bay. The next day we went out on a jeep safari right through where the fire had been and it was amazing just how much it had saved. But nothing cooler, than sitting on the beach, having these take back off under full smack right over your head! Epic sound!!!

[@user-dm4lt1xv6y]

I do my flight training at Mesa gateway. I saw this filmed and saw it sitting on the ramp

[@kevincervantes2390]

I recently graduated from ASU-Poly. Did some flight training at Gateway as well before switching to management. I was actually there the same week they posted this video. I got to see the start up procedure. A little anti-climatic though since they turned off the engines and I didn’t get to see them take off. A very cool airplane indeed.

[@AshtonKetola]

Lol! I train there now and saw it the other week!

[@XenoWiz]

The Pilots here are heros, I hope you are paid well because this takes guts, skill and a lot of blessing Thank you fellas for your life-risking work!

[@HuckThis1971]

Working for Bombardier challenger, this is still my favorite aircraft! Basically I flying tank! I have in the past seen this aircraft in the assembly plant here in Montréal before it was sold to viking air. I have also inspected some of the composite parts such as the water holding tanks etc. I am at the moment designing one to 3d print for rc!

[@als1023]

Viking will continue the legacy, a great aircraft builder, great owners, All Canadian , unlike Bombardier, need no gov't handouts. Best thing to happen to De Havilland, moving west, away from political corruption.

[@HuckThis1971]

@@als1023 I couldn't agree more!

[@nedeniaholm4369]

God bless them. My fiance who was copilot died in crash in 1989.

[@simonrancourt7834]

1:27 Look at the open door. On the inside of the door, there's a sign that says "Do not open door in flight".

[@spacemaster13]

Unsung heroes 💜💜

[@ninonicebx]

That is some seriously bad ass shit. Scooping up the water like that. One miscalculation and they are dead. Awesome SOB's. Respect to their mothers. Lol.

[@willydarmawan1978]

It's like warhog for firefighter

[@kingkong7617]

The US should have a fleet of about 30 of these water bomber planes to fight wildfires with and they would pay for themselves.

[@magnumxlpi]

They have 300 firefighting aircraft California alone has 23 tankers

[@jimclaytor9834]

I remember seeing 282 over Simi Valley California years ago on a fire as it was probably 500 feet above my house. Simply amazing to see in person. Great video. 🔥🔥👍👍

[@StickmanInFictionalCity]

Thumbnail : Normal Firefighting plane Me : *lego*

[@Pk-mx7mi]

When you also wanna be a pilot and a firefighter😏

[@tyreseinthismf]

This video was filmed at Roosevelt Lake in Gila County, Arizona. Just last year one of the largest fires in the states history burned the entire surrounding area.

[@aimaniskandar476]

@Business Insider scam

[@aimaniskandar476]

@Business Insider Report this scam

[@kyler2744]

@@aimaniskandar476 not a scam. This video was filmed at Roosevelt lake. The Bridger c145 was stationed at Mesa gateway airport. I had the privilege of going on a plane tour of that aircraft

[@aimaniskandar476]

@@kyler2744 no sorry there was a fake Business Insider account trying to scam people by replying that they have secret investment tips. The comments was probably deleted for spam. You can check other replies for prove or just check my other replies on this channel

[@RadicalTurbine]

I wish this was longer!

[@billbrisson]

Love the invasion stripes! Nice job Al!

[@cq7415]

Just had three day of these where I live at Wallowa Lake in Oregon. Two of these aircraft. Thanks for sharing.

[@dmor6696]

Big fires like the ones these people try to fight makes me cry when i see them on the news, before i didn't even care... (i was a stupid kid) in my small country, a few years ago 64 people died because of bad planning and wrong directions to some drivers from the emergency personel. it is very hard to remember this time i hope the best to every body, and please don't try to stay and protect your land, first protect yourself. and by the way, i have seen a situation where a lady turned on her sprinklers before evacuating and it actually helped save her property

[@DougsterCanada1]

For years, I have seen the Hawaii Mars fly overhead, and kayaked on Sproat Lake, BC all around it while it was on it's mooring. It's an amazing aircraft to see. These planes look great too.

[@jasonswift9310]

Growing up in Wyoming I remember being able to see the smoke from nearby fires Infrequently, now you can set your watch by them, makes you wonder sometimes. Big money in fighting fires!

[@XcylLencioco]

Congrats to everyone that is not early and not saying first

[@stevewisniewski5860]

I understand dad the firefighters and pilots of any aspect are understaffed and I thank all of you for whatever You do to help put out fires around our nation. My question still is in my mind of why doesn’t our government allow our military to get involved when Should be helping or could be helping our nation at home first? God bless all of you and stay safe.

[@email4664]

This is what makes America Great, not political trash- And I know, some of you are going to bring up fire politics, but I don't care to put that on these folks in this video, and they are the ones I am complimenting.

[@Richie016]

Aerofighters train hard to practice accuracy in executing various rescue operations 😊.

[@jonsey156]

Very Interesting !!

[@5710fpilot]

I was driving through lake roosevelt about a month or so ago.... doing test drops from a similar plane- wonder if it was them filming!

[@Jamescc2ify]

RESPECT ! HEROES that is what you are ! Putting your lives on the line on each and every mission , your professionalism, dedication and airmanship are demanding very special kind of persons to operate under those extreme circumstances ! I wish I could fly with you , guys !

[@agerman-speakingfilipino4138]

I plan on joining CAL FIRE in the future, so that I can see these people doing their job while I’m doing mine.

[@viperq]

These aircraft were lifesavers in California's 2020 fires.

[@viperq]

@Chris Clifford ugh ok

[@Ultranationalist941]

Its like doing CAS missions but you're saving lives and property.

[@whogavehimafork]

Man that was really cool. Saw a video of a tanker jet dropping retardant and it occurred to me that I had no idea what the process was like for the pilots

[@ronbenson5270]

Thank you & God speed!

[@ahmedliaqat6442]

This job is soo amazing

[@ok-xh7dn]

@Business Insider scam

[@anthonyryan1561]

I've missed this guy's voice

[@lottnio8207]

They are double heroes as pilots are heroes and firefighters are heroes.

[@id104335409]

A firefighter goes in the cockpit and tells the pilot to take off immediately. When in the air he then tells him the coordinates he needs to fly to. When they reach the smoke, he tells him to fly straight over the flames. At that point the pilot looks at him and nervously says "You're not my flight instructor, are you!?!"

[@terryjohnson3812]

I flew heavy air tankers, I've never had anyone in my flight deck tell me when to take off, where to go, and for the love of God not now to attack the fire.

[@id104335409]

@@terryjohnson3812 its a joke

[@jerrycann6374]

I worked at Canadair working on the CL215 back in the 80's. The CL415 looks identical to the CL215 except for the engines

[@Bendigo1]

Isn't it quite a bit bigger too?

[@jerrycann6374]

@@Bendigo1 no, the upgrades to the newer models are mostly in the avionics, engines. The 415 also has 4 bomb bay door vs the 2 in the 215 but the capacity remains the same

[@Bendigo1]

@@jerrycann6374 ok, thank you for the clarification.

[@horizon7799]

I honestly hope to someday pilot a SEAT if I don’t or can’t get into music, being a firefighter has always been a dream of mine, and now flying planes, it’s amazing that we humans as a race together can make such a creation.

[@gustavoheberle6265]

Safe flights to all Fire Fighter Crews !

[@dicdicd1767]

This plane is called Canadair CL-415 not superscooper!

[@bgorveatt]

The Super Scooper was invented to make it look like it was an American aircraft.

[@skurtlil9824]

Modern bomber that doesnt need us humans fighting eachother extremely inspiring

[@vickilindberg6336]

The flying that seems the scariest to me are the Super Scoopers. It seems like one errant log floating in the way could be a disaster, let alone cross winds.

[@MrDeweydog]

2:05 -besides the Canadians the Russians also purposly designed and built aircraft to fight fires, the Berievs.

[@bornjusticerule5764]

Looks like fun to me.🤙🏿

[@volgg]

Bless the firefighters, seriously, we need them more than ever with wildfires getting more dangerous by the year...

[@Toys-show2018Y]

Wow I like it

[@nvonaspern]

101% my dream career. Time to put my focus into it.

[@gorillachilla]

These guys are real heroes

[@jp8612]

Adler went from fighting the Russians to dropping water from a plane

[@famous5693]

Filling water with a flying aircraft really goose bumps

[@nitendo67]

Lets get this in FS2020 asap

[@Bendigo1]

They have it in X-Plane 10.

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Nice video.

[@pranavgoyal2798]

Canadair CL - 415 surely is a wonderful aircraft

[@smokum0]

Thank You

[@marctacchi]

I know do this after 20 years w/Airlines. Best job Ever

[@CarlosLopez-zw9wo]

You and me need to do some business together on aerial firefighting planes!

[@stewartdeerfield]

I saw these guy's flying out of Hemet in late 60' / early 70's. TBM's / F7F's/PBY's/B-17's/D.C.-4/6/7/& I'm not sure. S-2's just coming in. Great airshow!

[@jeffrobarge6378]

These guys are amazing pilots. God bless all of these courageous men and women, in the air or on the ground, that risk their lives year after year to battle the infernos that ravage the western United States more frequently and more destructively than ever.

[@fnln544]

And the Aerial Water Bombardiers should proudly wear WW2 style Bombardier flight wings. Blessings!

[@user-dm4lt1xv6y]

I saw the plane parked at Mesa gateway airport in arizona

[@matthewberg5835]

They should just made an academy where they teach you to fly and you get your license but at the same time also getting the hours needed to be an Ariel firefighter

[@theimpostor4317]

Man is an ex navy seal and now a firefighter pilot. Damn.

[@caspertheghost9999]

Awesome !

[@LBOUNCER101]

That plane bears a striking resemblance to the PB y5 a Catalina

[@rcfoley]

Beautiful airplane.

[@terryking6824]

Would be interesting to know how you make sure there aren’t any boats as well.

[@MB-cv5pz]

Visual identification is my guess. A preemptive low pass over the intended fill-up area could also send a clear message to any neighbouring boats about your intensions

[@terryjohnson3812]

They look out the windshield.

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

Yeah it's not hard to see boats on the water in a plane.

[@AirlineFud]

i’m just here for the narrator, i love his voice

[@devingraves8044]

This has always been a dream career for me

[@titantanic7255]

That’s no where near the training for dauntless dive bombing Still would be epic to do that tho

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

Completely different skill sets. Dauntless dive bombing is nowhere near the training required for modern precision bombing.

[@danasheets5478]

thank you for your service to others 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@samyfay7786]

Dream job.

[@samoolred1245]

we had amazing pilots in Australia but Gladys Berejiklian cut the firefighting and emergency services budget

[@musoseven8218]

Awesome flying, awesome job well done👍😊

[@kennysboat4432]

The planes that load out of lakes that are bucket less are the most impressive

[@ilikeminecraftgaming9331]

I would love to be a aerial firefighter,the only reason why I can’t is I get really dizzy and do not feel well at high elevations.that’s as a passenger in a plane,can’t imagine what my body would do flying one!XD

[@greenshield1]

I've been in the fire service for almost 30 years. 20 of this in major city. The only way I am doing wildland FF would be like this. Guess pilots license is in my future

[@rustyshakleford6553]

A wildland firefighters best friend after the helicopter that drops of lunch for the crew 🤪🔥🌲🇨🇦.

[@lbwertheimer5705]

I bet we’re gonna have A380’s fighting fires within the next 10 years

[@SoundInTimeSpace]

there commercial jets that are not made for putting out fires and due to the size the handling of it is not fit for these situations

[@Belioyt]

@@SoundInTimeSpace yes, these airplanes are purpose built. I think there are design limits as to the weight and size their airframes can be to perform such roles

[@lbwertheimer5705]

@@SoundInTimeSpace Yeah ik. But just reminding you that we converted a 744 to firefight...

[@georgobergfell]

The current 747 Supertanker is nowhere near its maximum take off weight, even witv a full load of fire retardant. I think an A380 would fit the purpose relatively well, except for the huge infrastructure on the ground that is needed

[@user-db1pn4ky2b]

I think Airbus 400m

[@Dave-eu3ib]

Bless you for what you do.

[@BhavaSindh]

It such a shame so many forest a burning up! Thankfully, these guys are there! And hopefully, people will take climate change more serious: beginning of the vid, they mentioned that now the fire season is basically year round!!!

[@wparo]

I am glad they can help a bit. Probably won't put out a wild fire but maybe help slow it down a little.

[@cupcaked8949]

Cooler than fighter jets

[@brandonzink8283]

Take me, train me, I’ll do whatever it takes please 😍