Just another site. The USFS did not get the number of LATs they assumed they would, I know it shocked them. But it refers to astudy conducted from 2007 to 2009, theNIAC Interagency Aviation Strategy, which concluded that the optimum number of Type 1 helicopters on EU was 34. LockA locked padlock These changes are going to put operators who have worked hard for generations, who have tirelessly jumped through USFS hoops for years out of businessthat is a crappy government thanks, with costly and unnecessary changes as the final slap in the face! Each year, DNR works ahead of the fire season to improve its access to professional equipment and services for fire suppression. Well, maybe in some locations. When are Fire Managers going to learn that it saves many thousands of dollars to start aircraft sooner than later, especially helicopters, knowing that you will spend a little if you turn them around when not needed. helicopter services hourly flight rates, fuel consumption, and weight reduction chart effective . Aircraft Type: DC-10. Type IIs? In addition, the federal land management agencies said last year they were going to limit the number of less-than-full-suppression fires and attack new ignitions aggressively. An official website of the United States government. Typos, let us know, and please keep in mind the commenting ground rules before you post a comment. The recent Fire at Custer State Park is proof that such Wildland Fire Fighting Equipment is a very welcome addition to our Fire Protection District. They requested to remain anonymous in order to avoid retribution from the agency. U.S. Forest Service and Interagency Aviation Publications Forest Service and interagency publications are the primary vehicles by which Forest Service and Interagency policy and standards are transmitted. Temp Tower Ordering Guidance - Central Service Area (ND) (2022-2027) Interagency Emergency Helicopter Extraction List. But we think we are really on the right track with our air tankers.. I may be incorrect in this, but I think the less than excited response from industry is based on them providing questions and input to the PM, HS and CO and getting pretty unsatisfactory responses. One important change in 2017 was the 18 percent reduction in the number of Type 1 helicopters on exclusive use (EU) contract. Woodbury, Bush, and other fires)., As sharedThe Tonto NF blatantly cancelled requests for aggressive initial attack on the Woodbury Fire., I think the Forest Service has zero comprehension of the new breed of forensic fire weather folks quietly documenting all these actionsI hope they understand many savvy folks are watching in prior years and they will continue to do so, Me. Response from industry-leading? Have a fire aviation news tip? https://www.kelly.senate.gov/, I think many of us do understand the contracting world and the pages put out by the head shed. The banker looks at your household income and job stability. The FS would gladly issue multi-year contracts (vs. base year + options). These proposed contract changes have made working for USFS impossible for most all operators especially restricted categories that will all be phased out when the new 2000 or newer requirement takes affect. Posted by the Forest Service (USDA) . swift wart treatment reviews; airport police salary philippines; queen victoria 60th year commemorative medal; cutler anderson architects. I think there is a better way to handle each Fire Season. The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing establishes minimum typing standards for aircraft, crews, and equipment for national mobilization to wildland fire incidents. Calfire is seeing right now how much NOT an upgrade they really are and how they are just too big for some things. Okay, what is the best way to answer that question of yours *** , How about-Actually allow aggressive initial and extended attack, including effective air support and reasonable and responsible firing operations. Office: (208) 387-5627 Mobile: (208) 985 6266 Unmanned Aerial Supervision(UAS) Program, Delphine Arizana, Contract Specialist So a one year contract with each additional option year at the discretion of the agency with unreliable congressional funding is not a concept that makes potential vendors feel all warm and fuzzy. We operate Type III helicopters and are now faced with 40+ pounds of equipment (costing over $60k per aircraft) to meet minimum requirements things that we really dont need like a Traffic Avoidance System (but the ADS-B they required last year isnt good enough) and a loudspeaker (because yelling at the fire helps?). Your input here is really helpful. Nobody should bid, then when everything is on fire and the USFS comes begging then youd have some leverage on them. Its unimaginable that they have created a situation where its likely there will not be a sustainable source for fire aircraft. Who will buy a 206, 407, etc besides AG guys? What year was this pic taken?? Guess what those choppers wont have cockpit cameras or loudspeakers or TAS. Continual outflanking of the crews. We all understand that. Thats rarely happened before b/c a) its a lot of $$$ and b) the states also believed that they would get aerial resources when needed, but they got burned by that hope, literallyyou may think you can grab it, but think again in tough times.State will think about State first before sharing the resource.it will get more interesting when France, Spain, Greece and Turkey take these assetssleep well FSyou guys are managing the LATs and Type 1s welltheyll always be there for you.keep up the good workwell done. What will replace a 407 for a Type III ship? %PDF-1.6 % Melinda Draper, Associate Branch Chief, Logistics, 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. 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? However, multi-year contacts must also include an aspect of a cancellation ceiling which must be funded up front. In each case, only the first year is guaranteed. The second highest was 46 percent in 2012. Well not quite, imho. Click here. And just a side note, the CO in charge of the solicitation has pointed out these things that are unrealistic but gets told to shut up and color from the mucky mucks in DCso please stop blaming Contracting and if you dont have a clue about contracting it maybe you should take some time to learn a little about contracting. Access to the U.S. Forest Service Contracting, Incident Support Branch, DOI SharePoint Page must be granted individually. Given the current climate of helicopter contracts there will be more people getting out of helicopters than getting into them. The arrogance and dismissal by the FS with most questions being answered Noted, Language will remain as written just adds frustration to irritation. Region 6 Cache Freight Services, Bryce Pitchford,Contracting Officer But they wont tell us when they are doing that, just that as we bid on EU work within the CWN contract eventually they are going to want modern helicopters. All perpetuated by the Gov. Does a 407 not meet the new requirements? Office: (208) 387-5231 Mobile: (208) 991-7639, Larry Robillard,Contracting Officer What happens when they implement it towards Type Is? Ignoring the facts of what that aircraft can actually carry, not what the vendor claims. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. I would encourage folks to contact their Congressional Representatives (once again) about problems with government contracting for fire-fighting aircraft. They essentially want a Sky Crane to do a Jet Rangers job. The idea of one year contracts is just one characteristic of a contracting process that lacks experience, maturity and common sense. Fire camp infrastructureand Incident Command Post (ICP) is a location at which primary command functions are executed. Doing business with the feds is not for the faint of heart. Give us folks in the field a little credit for the same credit you so richly deserve, Have a fire aviation news tip? usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2022. fort collins real estate investors. Other candidates would be the 412, and the other twin engine mediums on the market from AW and Airbus/Eurocopter. Not entirely true.why would a state find the funding to contract with a LAT provider??? Although I dont know if this counts as a legacy platform. Website Coordinator Thank youfor taking the time to tell us how we're doing! The December 13 update did not mention CWN helicopters, so we asked USFS Fire Communications Specialist Stanton Florea about their status. Hopefully it wont be used to often but should the need arise its great to have one right here locally to answer the call. National Pilots Local Small Business Specialist National Maintenance Agreement Robert Hoffman , Contracting Officer Office: (208) 387-5681 Mobile: (208) 866-1610 National Call-When-Needed Helicopters (Large Fire Support/Initial Attack) Flight Rate Charts Effective February 16, 2021 for contracts awarded 2013-2017 Above: N137BH, a Sikorsky70A or Firehawk helicopter, flies to refill its water bucket after dropping on the Rankin Fire in South Dakota September 13, 2017. Thats discouraging as it suggests that the customer really isnt listening and just providing the perception of doing so.your point of just not choosing to submit if an operator doesnt like it is incredibly insensitive and uninformed. A nod to newer technology. They just laugh at us.. Obviously another FS fella here. Oh, and dont glance over the cockpit camera, which they want even on restricted category bucket ships. Type 1 helicopters are the largest used on fires, carrying 700 to 2,800 gallons. Aviation for Region 2 These helicopters are the largest that are used for fighting wildfires and can carry between 700 and 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant. 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. With a defense budget of around $597 billion, it was almost as much as the next 14 countries put together and far larger than the rest of the world. The FS doesnt seem to trust the input from the industry on this, so maybe the FS should ask the people who provide the mortgage? Faintly, what are the advertisement you see posted on this site? Too busy feathering their own nests and grade-hopping they couldnt care less about the program at large. Everyone agrees that the military needs to be adequately funded, but in 2016 the amount the U.S. spent on defense was almost equal to what the next 14 countries combined spent. Things like long term stability, Banking considerations and finance never enter into the Governments equation. Publications include manuals, handbooks, standards, guides, plans, and other documents. Airtankers I think the word escape needs to be looked at a little deeperthat is what I do as a housewife hiker. Forest Service and interagency publications are the primary vehicles by which Forest Service and Interagency policy and standards are transmitted. Then why are one year contracts with optional years considered a sustainable way for helicopter companies to provide helicopters for fire fighting? 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. And of course, stop lying / omitting to the public and making false, lame excuses with only a grain of truth in their news conferences and news releases.