Cal Fire Aviation Sandbox Training Exercise 2022

[@eeblatter]

Having lost everything due to a firestorm I really appreciate the dedication of these professionals who work to keep us safe. Thank you, Juan, showing us this exercise.

[@VictoryAviation]

I'm fixed wing CPL and currently in rotary transition training, also having over 22 years in the military with two combat deployments under my belt. This kind of exercise is priceless to take care of mistakes before they ever happen in operation. It's amazing how much training value can be obtained from such exercises as long as everyone takes it seriously. A sandtable is the cheapest way to run through scenarios in the least amount of time and with the least amount of monetary investment. They can literally be set up anywhere. Thanks Juan for this awesome behind the scenes peek!

[@gerardjohnson2106]

Awesome. I watched this last year also. An excellent debriefing exercise. Debriefing = What we did. & What we coulda, shoulda, will do next time. Allotted and coordinated airspace for fire operations and other agencies is tough in these "heated" situations. Wishing all well and safe operations this year. Thanks for bringing this to us.

[@rickmaudlin2160]

Loved the "Left a Gap" comment on Tanker-89's pink-paper drop. hahaha Great exercise, thanks for bringing it to us.

[@ARFFWorld]

Firehouse humor at its finest.

[@tom_ad9343]

I take it the extreme accuracy of drops is no laughing matter, hence when not under the high stress of fighting a fire they can make light of it during the exercise.

[@rickmaudlin2160]

@@tom_ad9343 Yep. You got it.

[@rreiter]

Wow what a great way to train a mental picture of how the moving pieces all work together for everyone involved.

[@georgemccoy219]

I was a volunteer firefighter with Riverside County Fire / CDF Riverside Ranger Unit back in the late 80's and early 90's. I was always amazed at the close co-ordination between the air units. Thanks for showing me "the rest of the story". This simulated "sand box" training is amazing. Even in this day and age of incredible computer animation, a simple sand box interactive session can't be beat.

[@joeloveland6283]

I was too,Stn 35 and worked a season at stn 32. Didn't get to goo many wildland fires..East end of the county tended to cover. But it was always interesting to watch the air ops at work.

[@GyroBlain]

While being on a fire crew for six seasons in the 70's I started earning my PPL, and always had some curiosity about the flight logistics at fires. Even trained on helitac crew for fill-in but was never exposed to very much organizationally. I saw a few close calls, maybe due to a less than optimal air command in those years. This presentation by you was excellent, especially considering that there are so many fires these days. Thank you so much! BTW, very nice to meet you at the Tower Grill. Come again & fly rotors with me!

[@blancolirio]

Thanks Blain!

[@telquad1953]

Very very good. Well done. Respect to all the firefighters, no matter what their speciality.

[@johnwilliamson5191]

Another fine classroom video I learn so much, Thank you. That group there probably among the best in the world.

[@ARFFWorld]

Who needs computers and high tech equipment to have great training. Just need some yarn and a room full of great minds. Thanks for sharing this Juan.

[@pdxyadayada]

I loved this when you presented it last year!

[@coonagh1]

Great insight as to how it’s all coordinated. Thanks for sharing.

[@catherinenelson4162]

That looked like good training to me! I've known some of the farm families on that ridge for a number of years. In fact, one of their family members worked with me at the Forest Service a number of years ago.

[@dgsantafedave1]

You could really see this training unfold during the Ranchofire. There were helicopters, 2 engine, 4 engine planes, 4 jet and heavies all in the air around the fire at the same time! Also there was a strange looking jet way up high that was circling the perimeter the whole time.

[@loganamnosiss]

The one circling was most likely the controller for all the other units.

[@johnfitzpatrick2469]

That chemical does a good job containing fire. Also reinforces the importance of altimeter accuracy! 🌏🇦🇺

[@Unknown_Ooh]

Also has PFAS in it and pollutes water and causes cancer. Wild fires are natural and controlling them makes them worse. What do you think happened before firefighting services existed? Clearly it didn't burn down half the country. Waste of tax dollars.

[@johnclements8549]

That is awesome drill practice!

[@edkiely2712]

Great content again Juan! You're easily one of the top aviation channels out there!

[@Nates707]

More cal fire aviation content please 🤩

[@davidschafranka3975]

Excellent briefing. Wishing the news media could see this before they report.

[@grantgarlington7ACDriver]

Just wanted to thank you again for all the great video content you provide for us… You are an inspiration for perfection

[@SwitchMonkey]

That was cool! Chair flying is so important. Never go into the sky without knowing what’s going to happen.

[@T21Dad]

Very cool to see the behind the scenes planning and training. I lived in Roseville for 14 years and listened to many air ops on nearby wildfires and was always impressed by the coordination ability of the Air Attack captains. I don't think this video truly captured the multi-tasking that they do in real time. I think you could do a long form interview for a veteran air attack guy intertwined with some in-cockpit audio and video showing a real fire. Keep the content coming Juan.

[@akb5531]

That was really interesting! Thanks for the wide variety of things you do on your channel & all the work you put in to it.

[@jimwattenburger4545]

Great training refresher for all cooperators, big improvement over years past. I was the I.C. For the midair tanker crash on August 27th, 2001 , Hopland California, speaking from experience.

[@daveg8993]

Where's Marty?

[@kevinphillips9408]

Gee this is a great video. Amazing work that they do.

[@sofakingfunnyone]

non pilot, zero experience ~>>> this is fascinating !

[@kirknitz3794]

Excellent job by all. Eerie hearing the actual call out. The special effects for the helo was cool. Prayers that all stay safe.

[@richardburguillos3118]

That was great! Your videos really makes me wish I had made different career choices. Thanks to the men and women and support staff that fight these fires in the sky and on the ground for all your hard and extensive training to make it safe.

[@rogerlafrance6355]

Here in CO, they seem to be getting the TFR's up a lot faster. Also, have noticed a rash of Ag part 137 accidents including some seats.

[@terrancestodolka4829]

Nice to be with a bunch of professional firefighter pilots. The best is when they achieve a goal of containment, but they will tell you their best is when they work with the ground crews, and to keep them all safe. So in the end all the Firefighters are going home safe and sound.

[@VLove-CFII]

Excellent content. A completely different type of advanced flying. CalFire has this down to a science. Thanks for the video Juan.

[@kenclark9888]

Wow such a great program!

[@shadowsrwolf]

No cal fire is not a great program is is extremely flawed and restricts most fire assets to being owned by the state

[@vincentvdh4133]

It reminds me of the types of briefings the Blue Angels conduct, prior to conducting their performances. I didn't realize it was that extensive. Amazing!

[@badbilly1083]

I absolutely love the CalFire info & videos

[@dominicMcAfee]

Hey Juan! Yeah this is one I was telling about on the call. I love this! Thanks for bringing it to us!!!! Really cool content!

[@cfinstr]

On Monday the 13th of June 2022 at about 6:30 P.M. there was a fire to the west of Lake Hughes in Northern Los Angeles County. There was a 45 knot wind from the west and Calfire had helicopters dropping water… a DC-10 came in from the East on the north side of the fire, did a 180 and did a drop of the red stuff on his West to East run. Two fire trucks and ground crews jumped in and no structures were lost even though the wind got up to 60 knots from the west. The grassland fire was quickly put out. Ground crews kept watch…..

[@collectorguy3919]

I wish my office was like this: Using a low-tech/high-value sandbox, coordinating with actual people in a big space, with the big door open. We have a "sandbox" database that can't approach it's real potential because the technology, and the organization built to serve it, gets in the way. Complexity could not be avoided in the past, but the future is simplifying systems architecture so people can experiment more.

[@mikenovick4827]

Good job Juan I had no idea the coronation in which cal fire keeps everyone in check and organized, great idea for a dry run. Thanks

[@elosogonzalez8739]

Practice makes perfect! Loosing one is ONE TOO MANY! We've got plenty of the real thing in Arizona right now. Sure could use some help. Great video Juan!

[@AndyHoltOutdoorUniversity]

That was educational and entertaining! Thank you for filming this.

[@peterwilliams9535]

About 2 fire seasons ago I watched a Canadian plane fly overhead after dropping its magic fairy dust over a neighbouring suburb. Yes, where we live (Warrawee, Sydney, NSW Aus.) there are many very tall gum trees. It is great to have collaboration and communication with Canadian, and US, firies. Useful that our fire seasons are at different times of the year. Not so great is the fact that fire seasons are widening due to global warming. A change of government in Australia hopefully means some extraction of the proverbial fingers in that regard. BTW, loved the sandpit games - thanks Juan.

[@androidemulator6952]

So interesting watch- great way to rehearse everyone's role and protocols - thanks for the video

[@tomkiefer2386]

That was amazing!!

[@Ryno_916]

Bless all of you

[@nancychace8619]

Good session. Interesting to see how they practice. Hope things don't get too crazy this year. Stay safe -

[@trinity72gp]

🇬🇧🙋🏾‍♀️Very well explained. These guys do amazing work in challenging conditions 👌🏾👍🏾

[@ericmichalski9468]

Awesome video!!!

[@scottsarchitecturehildebra1761]

Super cool Juan!

[@OFD271]

Just got back from Calf Creek Fire in New Mexico. Spent a morning with the Aeroflite 415's @ KSAF chatting about their ops If California experiences anything this year like AZ and NM are getting right now, its gonna be a long one.

[@mattshaffer5935]

Great content. Very interesting.

[@onewheelworld7008]

thank you

[@clmccomas]

I'm assuming that "Flat pitch" is short for "I have landed and doing a hot unload or load"? Flat pitch is where the rotor blades are flat and are not generating any lift. Good stuff. Sandboxes are a great way to expose any misunderstandings or miscommunications of a plan. It is important in these kinds of exercises to make them a penalty free zone, so people are not afraid to ask stupid questions.

[@blancolirio]

Yep.

[@lukehoward3487]

Great exercise

[@shirmworm]

Interesting! Thanks!!!

[@crystalparker9117]

I remember that crash near Ukiah in 2001 l, my dad was good friends with the pilots Larry and Lars. My dad was Air attack captain out of Rohnerville AAB

[@Ryanboy2020]

Californians do not appreciate the fact that in Cal Fire they have the world's premier forest fire fighting force in the world! No fire is too hot for CalFire!!

[@rogerpenske2411]

Are the nozzles adjustable to vary the droplet size in order to compensate for wind, altitude, and RH so as to maximize the amount of water that gets to the ground before it evaporates?

[@marlinweekley51]

Juan I’ve heard only one company makes fire retardant (dropped from aircraft) and that company is owned by one family. Is this true? Are others considering entering the business. Seems with the obvious increase in demand would be tough for one source to meet that demand economically. Interesting and timely topic.

[@2011mendo]

Pretty cool.... Never heard any of the pilots talk about wind, (smoke) height or density. Is that not a topic of discussion? Especially for that copter dropping crew!!

[@jkapown]

Haven't watched this video YET, however I know for a FACT that the Pilots are in the driver's seat this round of negotiations and it's time too get paid, you deserve it. Amen-

[@GringoLoco1]

It's going to be another tough fire season. Be safe and come home!

[@chriso847]

Who should a GA pilot contact if he or she sees a new fire that appears to have no Cal Fire on scene yet?

[@blancolirio]

Contact the local ATC controlling agency. They'll forward the info quick!

[@chriso847]

Good to know. Thanks Juan.

[@ScottGinATL]

Thank you again Juan for the great content! How often do the teams have to go through this type training so they can know how to work together when the time comes?

[@DG-wu7ke]

I just saw a Concorde landing in this late 70's movie. Did you ever fly on one?

[@auroran0]

That's a good Murphy's law in there with an actual call happening in training. I've had that happen on search and rescue training. We think we're going to be training on one thing then get sent elsewhere for the real deal.

[@theashpilez]

Ya need a bigger sandbox

[@bajamedic]

Juan, I see you in a VLAT in the future. You would have a shorter commute too.

[@ex-missourifireexplorerrob8274]

Do the Cal Fire air bases have their own tones, when being dispatched?

[@baldmann81850]

Capt. Juan, this is off topic but I really want to know. Did aircraft engineers learn anything about the acrobatics of the Q400 performed by the hijacker 3 years ago in KSEA?

[@bermuge1]

can anyone clarify what it means to say that the helicopters orbit clockwise with respect to the seating position of the pilot?

[@mtkoslowski]

Juan, how come _you’re_ not flying fire operations? Surely you are well qualified?

[@EWDAVID94]

i hope they made airplane and helicopter noises

[@johnwoodall3791]

The Air Crews of Cal Fire next to the Military have skills that defy logic at times...

[@greglong2784]

Question. Why left/right rather then port/starboard.

[@blancolirio]

This ain't the Navy...

[@daveg8993]

@@blancolirio 😀😀😁

[@lebojay]

And I work at a fu**ing desk. ☹️

[@ronaldjennings8057]

👍👍👍👍🔥🙏🛩

[@3rdgr2t11]

I wish i had them engines

[@adrianwapcaplet2773]

The commentary implies these airspace procedures were not standardized or in widespread use prior to the 2001 midair S-2 collision. If true, I find that surprising, as aerial fire suppression was/is a very mature industry, even back then. A time-based, not a distance-based initial call yields more accurate sequencing of aircraft arriving at differing speeds. Outside the US, aircraft call when 5 minutes back, not 12 miles. Mind you, the Americans allow a racetrack stack with multiple air tankers following each other at the same altitude, whereas a vertical stack with 500' separation is the norm elsewhere. If no positive response/clearance is achieved, then a distance-based holding point is mandated: inbound assets proceed no closer than 5nm from the coordinates (similar to the 7nm ring in the US). It's interesting to see the similarities as well as the fundamental (and subtle) differences in aircraft use and terminology between US and non-US wildland fire agencies. PS: why do sheriffs need to be on scene? Sorry coppers - remain 5 miles from the fire. .

[@joeloveland6283]

Because some sheriff helicopters are equipped for water drops, especially in California where resources may be scarce due multiple fires. Just a few days ago there was a wildland interface type fire in a local city and we had 1 CalFire helicopter and 2 San Bernardino County Fire Helicopters doing water drops.

[@adrianwapcaplet2773]

@@joeloveland6283 OK, these are CalFire and/or County resources then. I understand LA, SD, SB etc Counties are well-equipped with wildland aviation assets, but I was envisioning random law enforcement aircraft overhead fires, which doesn't seem to serve much of a purpose that I can think of.

[@joeloveland6283]

@@adrianwapcaplet2773 to a certain extent, true. But I can see them being used to coordinate evacuation of citizens ahead of the fire, possibly noting hot spots jumping ahead, advising of problems with traffic/road closures. They Air attack also has to be aware of and maybe coordinate press/media helicopters in the area and advise them of areas to avoid so they aren't in the way of water drop/retardant drops operations

[@adrianwapcaplet2773]

@@joeloveland6283 The fire intelligence component is performed by air attack, not by law enforcement. Ground-based law enforcement may notify people to evacuate, but not by aircraft. Media helicopters are like any other general aviation traffic, and would need to remain clear of the TFR or any area covered by NOTAM unless specifically cleared into the fire traffic area. I'm not sure about the US, but there is no obligation here to allow media aircraft overhead an active incident.

[@flybyairplane3528]

JUAN, Hello& thanks for this ;sandbox; idea, , At your field, is there now more JET A, or do they refill elsware ? Stay well 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@blancolirio]

Plenty of Jet A here for Airtankers.

[@utahballoonflights2716]

Come see the BLM in Utah next 😊

[@robertsimmons3556]

Always poignant topics on your channel. My brother in law flew about every airtanker in the inventory. He retired from Aero Union flying P3's. He always has stories and safety issues are always attached!!! Good...Bad...and funny! Actually today is his birthday, he's made 84 trips around the sun.

[@mrredpill3121]

they need some shoulder wings

[@stevet8121]

Playing in a sandbox with lives on the line.

[@aDifferentJZ]

lolol calling the 2nd pilot out on the gap of sand

[@markknister6272]

Review - review - review - practice - review - do - review - - -

[@kenhurley4441]

Unfortunately your gonna have to do a bunch of real fires this year. Sure hate to see the drought continuing in 2022. Practice, practice, practice with a bunch of realies!

[@mikesolo7993]

Thanks for deleting the frequncies!