by Walt Jazun & Bill Lavender
CORDOBA, ARGENTINA — Aerial firefighting has been around since the mid-1950s. Some say it started in California, and that could be true. However, there have been for many years sophisticated fire air ops throughout the world, including South Africa, Chile, Canada, Argentina and what used to be called East Germany. It wasn’t until the last decade or so, that the impact of aerial firefighting has been felt in the ag-aviation industry with the evolvement of initial attack single engine air tankers (S.E.A.T.). This novel way of fighting a fire by air has opened the doors of the aerial fire fighting industry to both private operators and government agencies that before may not have been able to participate.
In March of 1999, AgAir Update had the opportunity to visit a small, but growing aerial fire fighting group in Cordoba, Argentina. At that time, the organization only had a Cessna 188 Ag-Pickup (230 hp) for firebombing. Today, the Direccion General de Aeronautica de Cordoba has a fleet that comprises of three Air Tractors, two AT-502s and a recently delivered new AT-802F, the original Cessna 188, a Cessna 206, a King Air 350 and two Agusta 109 helicopters, an A model and a K2 series, used for firefighter transport, as well as relocation of the 80-gallon water bag to replenish ground firefighters backpacks and is also equipped with a Bambi bucket for direct water applications to the fire.
Agencia Cordoba Ambientes, as well as the Direccion General de Aeronautica de Cordoba, are agencies of the government of Cordoba that work in conjunction for the fire fighting effort. This means they are agencies operating under the provincial government of Cordoba from the International Airport in Cordoba City, Argentina. Agencia Cordoba Ambientes provides early warning, detection, coordinating, logistic support for firefighting, while the Direccion General de Aeronautica provides the delivery of water with the airplanes. With the exception of the Air Tractors, the other aircraft are multi-purpose use including transporting government officials and life-flight ops, as well as firefighting. The pilots are trained to fly all types of missions.
Agencia Cordoba Ambientes was formed in 1991 and started using the Cessna 188 Ag Pickup. It later added two AT-502s. In June of 2006, the operation expanded with the delivery of its (first) new AT-802F firefighter. The Cessna is still as clean and new looking as ever with its Air Tractor paint scheme, but has been retired from firefighting.
Firefighting services by Agencia Cordoba Ambientes are throughout the province of Cordoba, but most of the firefighting activities are conducted to the west of Cordoba City in the Sierra Chica and Sierra Grande mountains (small and large sierras). This mountain range extends north and south for 130 miles and has several peaks as high as 5000 feet, with the highest point at 6000 feet. People burning trash and clearing land start many of the fires here.
54 observation stations with one portable weather station monitor the Sierra Chica. The weather station alerts the firebase where the most likely area is for a fire to start. When a fire is spotted, the alarm is given and the fire attack is initiated. Although firefighting operations are flown from the Cordoba Airport, Agencia Cordoba Ambientes has mobile firefighting equipment and can operate from airstrips that are closer to the fire.
Of the eight pilots, there are always at least three pilots on standby during the fire season that is typically from June through December. Since the fires are fought only in the daylight hours, the standby time is from 8a to 6p daily. The pilots log about 120 hours a year for all flight operations. Three of the pilots are exclusively fixed wing and three helicopter rated, while two are qualified to fly both fixed and rotor wing aircraft.
The provincial government of Cordoba funds Agencia Cordoba Ambientes and the Direccion General de Aeronautica. Up until two years ago, funding came from the general fund of the state government. Now, the $16 million budget is supported with a six times a year $4 assessment to utility bills that exceed a certain amount.
During the fire season, it is typical to have two or three fires a week. However, depending on the weather, this number could jump to seven or eight fires a week. Until recently, the government would let the fires burn. When the fires became a threat or got too large aerial firefighting operations would be ordered.
Today, the government follows the philosophy of the SEAT program with initial attack tactics. By doing so, flight time has been cut by 50%. On critical days, the Cessna 206 is used to patrol potential fire areas. During fire attack operations, it is used as a bird dog to direct the Air Tractors’ drops, especially over the mountain ridges. The drops are made with water exclusively. No foam or retardant is used. The priority mission for the drops is to protect homes and stop grass fires.