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. Bill wrote 3 sentences without even putting his opinion in, the overwhelming response is that the only people happy or satisfied with this RFP are the people who wrote it. Smokejumper Aircraft |2020 Executive Summary 2 Table 1 - CY 2020 Forest Service Aircraft Fleet Summary Number of Aircraft Helicopters Exclusive Use (EXU) 102 Call When Needed (CWN) 520 Agency Owned 3 Airtankers Maybe they could have figured out a better transition, maybe not. At least two CL-415s were removed from USFS contracts and placed on a state contract this year too. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Thats what happens when non-aviation people get put it charge of aviation programs. . Large Jet Transport The difference is there are very few air tankers compared to helicopters on EU and CWN contracts. My sympathies lean towards the contractors who despite expending capital, training pilots and mechanics etc. Type 1 USFS Contracts - Vertical Reference Helicopter Forums On the contractor side, if you want to bid on a contract without those things, fine, lets see how important they really are for the mission by whether the FS still go for the low bid or walk the walk and share the expense of upgrades. Theyre only offering a one-year contract, said Ron Hooper, president of Missoula-based Neptune Aviation. In other locations they would just shrug their shoulders and walk away. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. Typos, let us know, and please keep in mind the commenting ground rules before you post a comment. 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. Aviation I would be interested to see more reporting on why the USFS is making this transition now and how they made the decisions. October 27, 2021 Forest Service Response: The USFS recognizes the importance of safety recommendation A-10-168 and continues to refine Flight Data Monitoring requirements. PDF Home | US Forest Service Your last sentence in the nail in the coffin.seeing as that this contract will be LPTA and a year to year option, how do you finance a new a/c that will surely be $2-$4M on the low end? The second highest was 46 percent in 2012. Very Large Airtankers (VLAT)are capable of delivering over 8,000 gallons of fire retardant to support firefighters on the ground. Let the operators upgrade when if/it will work. They are proposing to increase the dollars spent on Defense by $165 billion. The banker looks at your household income and job stability. NICC is the sole source for large transport aircraft holding 14 CFR Part 121 Certificates and for Type 1 and 2 Call-When-Needed (CWN) Helicopters. You have to love the obvious FS sycophants on here making contemptuous, defensive and specious arguments. usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2021 forest service contracts usfs type 3 helicopter contracts 2020 usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2020 interagency call when needed helicopter contract usfs call when needed contracts usfs type 3 helicopter contracts 2021 A quick direction on editing National Exclusive Use Airtanker Service Contract Online Then why are one year contracts with optional years considered a sustainable way for helicopter companies to provide helicopters for fire fighting? When I feel less crappy and can give this the focused attention I will write more. Bush fire, Heavy IA and A/C response, not much daylight left when start was dispatched. 6-month EU contract extensions for Type 3 helicopters with contracts expiring in 2022, utilizing BOAs for remaining EU line items. Click here. You guys (and gals) should possess enough experience to influence how contracts are conceptualized, and bring some common sense back to the process, Nobody should bid, then when everything is on fire and the USFS comes begging then youd have some leverage on them.. What do you do with an expensive asset like a helo when youre only customer suggests to just not submit? There are three primary types of firefighting crews, Type 1, Type 2 IA, and Type 2. a request arrives from the US Forest Service to locate a missing range tech and his unit last reported headed for nearby Stinkin' Springs, and the brutal murder of Constance Suarez in the . Smaller helicopters carry water in buckets that hold between 100-400 gallons of water. Light Operational Loads Monitoring Systems (OLMS) They will tell you they have their smerfs.SMEs ( who typically are cradle to grave beuracrats as well), who are supposedly dialed in on the subject matter surerightlmao That is by far the highest percentage of UTFs in the last 18 years. There are only 2 options and they are well in to the 10s of millions of dollars. 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. It has been lightly edited. CTS Language Link (On-Demand Remote Interpreting (OPI & VRI) and Document Translation) PADD202000297. 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. Several vendors opted for EU contracts with states instead of the USFS. Do you know anything that can replace a CH-54/S-64 or an S-61? National Helicopters (Large Fire Support, Initial Attack, Call-When-Needed) The stats are in for the use of firefighting helicopters in 2017. Sadly, this is just another reason why operators will have to get out of the fire fighting business or send the aircraft to other countries where they will actually be treated like the critical assets that they are. coleman 533 stove carry case; trumpets in the sky alaska; replica designer swimwear vendors; No.thats what happens when you have cradle to grave beuracrats (who havnt a clue about running a business) in charge of doling out federal dollars. 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. As a former helitacker I know we were always looking forward to moving to a more modern helicopter fleet. PDF Aviation Annual Report - US Forest Service 6-month Exclusive Use (EU) contract extensions for 34 Type 2 helicopters with contracts expiring in 2022, utilizing BOAs for remaining EU line items. Senator Mark Kelly may be interested in hearing comments about FS & DOI aircraft contracting: I know we arent alone in how upset we are with the Forest Service right now. Thank you. usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2021 - rtr-funding.com In 2016 the FS hired 34 Type 1 helicopters but starting in 2017 reduced the number to 28. The administrative bases of the helicopters will be at 48 locations. All Standard and Restricted category Type 1, 2 and 3 helicopter contracts awarded under the USFS Type 1, 2 and 3 2022 Multiple Award Task Order (MATOC) Helicopter Support . The idea of one year contracts is just one characteristic of a contracting process that lacks experience, maturity and common sense. 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. Why are only Types III and II legacy helicopters being phased out? What do you do with an expensive asset like a helo when youre only customer suggests to just not submit? NTSB The USFS did not get the number of LATs they assumed they would, I know it shocked them.
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. Puuuullleeezethe Agency surely has gotten a response. A lot of the operators that will get pushed out because of this RFP do a lot of irrefutably safe work when fire season peaks, or when resource work is needed, with excellently maintained legacy platforms at great value to the taxpayers., Less than three months after Forest Service Chief Christiansen said the agency was going to release a report shortly about the feasibility of moving to 10-year contracts, they issued a presolicitation for helicopter contracts that guaranteed one year. Over and again these career bureaucrats prove their aggressive pursuit of continued failure and abject ineptitude. A!ican Elephant. Maybe they could have figured out a better transition, maybe not. The Aviation Branch supports the acquisition of Airtankers, Helicopters, Light Fixed Wing Aircraft, Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) maintenance, Large Jet Transport and related aviation support including aircraft maintenance, consulting, aircraft purchase, contract pilots and aircraft equipment. Forest Service makes major changes in helicopter contracts Putting more aircraft (fixed and rotor) in the air and cutting corners on Aerial Supervision is a bad, bad recipe. In fact, for the helicopter operators engaged in aerial firefighting, the Type-1s have become the preferred helicopter type, as they transition away from aging, smaller Type-2 and Type-3 modelsboth types with 9 seats or less, and with respective certified internal gross weights of 7,000 to 14,000 pounds (Type 2), and under 7,000 pounds (Type 3); This change will be a double edged sword..as operators cannot meet requirements or afford changes they will shut their doors and then already limited resources will be permanently removed for fire. Just Helicopters > Articles and News > Community Articles Time to take care of my health morehave my brain ss procedure soon. Theres the rub! The agency has posted a second draft of a new Request for Proposals (RFP) and will hold a virtual meeting about the contracts on September 29. Office: (208) 387-5627 Mobile: (208) 985 6266 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. Dont you? Airtankers But you better pay for it, USFS says! Y63 u3e11iQfkbKT?cx6Yi>#/@ G6
The end result is fewer options for the government, but maybe that is what they want. The work will be performed at United States. Aviation Guides/Publications. NRCC >>> Logistics / Dispatch >> Aviation - National Interagency Fire They simply never had to deal with these considerations. In addition to just a one year guarantee, there were new requirements for equipment to be added to the aircraft requiring significant additional expenditures for the private companies bidding on the services. Federal Contract Opportunity for National Exclusive-Use Type 1 and Type 2 Helicopter Modernization SN-2021-01 . 3. Type 1 helicopter Archives - Fire Aviation One important change in 2017 was the 18 percent reduction in the number of Type 1 helicopters on exclusive use (EU) contract. Too busy feathering their own nests and grade-hopping they couldnt care less about the program at large. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. FAA Temp Tower Agreement - Western Service Area (2019-24) SAFECOMs. Meanwhile, the defense of our Homeland gets cut. I say all you vendors simply BOYCOTT the USFS. I can see being a little conservative with air tankers because most have to jettison their load if not used. NIFC Operations (Photographer/Videographer Services), Chris Kirk,Purchasing Agent The banker looks at your household income and job stability. Companies like Construction Helicopters are even putting together S-61 ships and crews for Afghanistan. Todd thanks for chiming in. U.S. Forest Service employees (Forest Service Internal Link), U.S. Department of Interior (DOI Internal Link). Its unimaginable that they have created a situation where its likely there will not be a sustainable source for fire aircraft. Most smokejumpers work from late spring through early fall. Post author: Post published: junho 10, 2022 Post category: the gridlessness family Post comments: eyal lalo net worth eyal lalo net worth Today the U.S. Forest Service announced the contract awards for 48 Type 1 helicopters. Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) Focal Point, Mike McFarlane,Contracting Officer Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Brian. They just laugh at us.. Talking to the local authority of that Bush Fire area- depending on the rainfall it will wipe out watersheds roads crosby, tx police . National Air Attack Exclusive Use Aircraft A CWN aircraft could be tied up on something else or undergoing heavy maintenance when the phone in the office rings asking if they can respond to a fire. There is no cost, and in case you change your mind each email has an unsubscribe button. Basic Equipment Requirements: Each piece of equipment has a minimum required equipment inventory that must be on the equipment at the time of hire. A lock ( Have a fire aviation news tip? In 2016 the FS hired 34 Type 1 helicopters but starting in 2017 reduced the number to 28. 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. In my lifetime, I will not see the beauty I once hiked. PDF Welcome to the Nation's Logistical Support Center | National There is obviously some back door dealing going on with this RFP as it very specifically pushes money to certain equipment providers and tips the hat to certain helicopter companies. Just curious on what you think would have made the difference as the Initial Attack IC? 5 more pack tests and Im done. Large, heavy-lift helicopters can fill their water tanks with a snorkel that siphons water from lakes, rivers, or other sources. Just like how the new GM Suburban for Diplomates costs millions of dollars each and the contract went to the one company that can make it. Photo by Bill Gabbert. It seems nothing is making sense anymore, and we are destined to fail if this shortsightedness is allowed to continue. Much of the defense budget is spent in countries on the other side of the world. Other helicopters may or may not be procured on a Call When Needed (CWN) contract. Erickson wins three USFS 2021 fire contracts 5-Apr-2021 Source: Erickson Erickson Incorporated, a worldwide leading operator, maintainer, and manufacturer of utility aircraft, announces three new USFS Firefighting contracts for the upcoming 2021 wildfire season. Chief Pilot for the USFS, Abraham Fandrich, retires, Ride with a single engine air tanker as it drops near Borger, Texas, Lockheed looks ahead to advancing capability in wildland firefighting, Aerial Firefighters Association to promote safety, standards, innovation, Coulson tanker down in Western Australia, pilots okay, Helicopter crash kills 2 in Chilean fires. Modular AirborneFirefighting System (MAFFS) Mechanics %%EOF
There just isnt enough. The Blackhawk wont work because they are restricted category. The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing establishes minimum typing standards for aircraft, crews, and equipment for national mobilization to wildland fire incidents. Schedule of Equipment Rates | FEMA.gov Give us folks in the field a little credit for the same credit you so richly deserve, Have a fire aviation news tip? Web portals include key information that is updated on a continuous schedule. As this is being written, the politicians we elect to represent us in Washington are trying to put together a last minute (literally) federal budget that will keep the government from shutting down again tonight. Once we get all of that figured out, turns out that the increase in performance specifications at 7,000 / 30C combined with the added equipment pretty much eliminates legacy ships from meeting performance requirements. Base model costs 50k where does the rest go??? usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2021farmington hills police. The recent Fire at Custer State Park is proof that such Wildland Fire Fighting Equipment is a very needed as well as welcome addition to our Fire Protection District. Oh and theres a reason for the price difference, all the vendors you see with blackhawks have restricted category aircraft. And they are cheap azzs that wont pay much for anything. National Exclusive Use Helicopters (Large Fire Support/Initial Attack) KWS-Elephant-Strategy - Conservation and Management Strategy for the . They can be fitted with tanks or buckets to deliver water and fire retardant to the fireline. Just need to add, Mama told me the customer is always right. Cell phone gps location, sat phones and ADSB are far more useful. Not the news we all are hearing. Through the use of Preseason Agreements and by partnering with the U.S. Forest Service Region 6 Fire Aviation Contracting Team (FACT), through VIPR contracts, DNR is able to pull in outside resources quickly if needed. Retrain public information officers and media how Wildland Fire works, And listening to and heeding the counsel of competent IA resources would go a long way to regaining the confidence of their employees and the general public-, I will chew on your inquiry and sleep on itget back later to you. Helicopters were first used on wildfires in 1947. Thank you. The Bush fire WAS aggressively IAd, however given the fuel and weather conditions at the time escaped rather quickly. Along with Monitormonkey from above. Steve Peterson, Contracting Officer PDF 3833 South Development Avenue; Boise, ID 83705 Helicopters cost pennies in comparison if you need to cancel them (or nothing if they dont even get off the ground!). On the other hand it seems in our world it is more important that Im not happy until youre not happy seems to rule. A 212 is a twin, performs better than a 412 is all aspects but is a little older and only has two blades. 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? They are all tied to contractors in the business. . Interagency standards for fire and fire aviation operations 2022 The FS requirements are out of synch with the financial obligations of the companies they want to hire. Interested vendors must get their offers to the FS by March 3, 2021. Office: (208) 387-5272 Mobile: (208) 616-5546 But look on the bright side the SMEs will feel like they are back in the military! Looks like CH-47s at Jeffco (2) and Rifle, and Durango and Kmax at Monument. So given these facts, what do you think they are trying to achieve in ultimately reducing the number of a/c in a time when we need more of them? The administrative bases of the helicopters will be at 48 locations. Two discussions, one one year, the other 2019. As I indicated, Im very interested in more reporting on this from the customer side of the table, IE the USFS as well as industry. That means NO helitack, NO rappelers, ONLY flight crew and bucket work. It will be going through clearance in a matter of a few days and it will be getting to the committee here shortly. And CWN aircraft cost the government much more to operate than EU resources. How do you Initial Attack (IA ) for forty plus miles from the Four Peaks turn off to the Roosevelt Lake turn off? DB109437 Archie: Volume 1. The USFS has determined there is not enough time for an adequate response from industry, a complete evaluation by the government, and ultimately timely award prior to the start of 2022 mandatory availability periods. It doesnt matter what we say if we dont pay the price , the US Forest service only go and hire the Canadians to do our job. Region 6 Cache Freight Services Handcrews | US Forest Service (Originally published at 5:34 p.m. MT February 8, 2018). usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2021 - ammcap.com The National Interagency Aviation Council study that was approved by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group in July, 2008, recommended that there be on contract in 2012, 34 Type 1 helicopters . Putting more undue pressure on vendors to meet their misunderstanding of both FW and RW aviation. IBC's Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD) is responsible for the acquisition of a full suite of commercial aviation services supporting each bureau in the Department of the Interior, as well as many external customers. It also recommended a total of 35 air tankers by 2018, which included three water-scooping air tankers. On the other hand when your not spending your own money you can afford an almost $25 million firehawk.