I have had a request for a “translated” version of some of my posts. Rather than do that, I will publish a glossary of terms, and if you have questions, put them in the comment section. I’ll add to this as time permits…..(some are a bit tongue in cheek….)
SEAT-Single Engine Air Tanker. Most underutilized of modern wildfire fighting assets. Flown by the best and brightest of pilots, who are capable of aviation, navigation, and Continue reading →
A very vivid lesson that was driven home to me in SEAT training was the video of a car in the path of 800 gallons of water. A firefighter in the open, who had several hundred gallons of water dropped on him at best would be covered, gooey and sticky for days. At worst, he could be killed or injured. Continue reading →
So, I moved into the pit, the hose connected, and I watch very carefully as the “mud” is pumped on board. My phone usually rings during this time, but I ignore it. This time we are loading from the right. It’s the first time I’ve flown *this* particular 802 since February or March. With the right window open, we get a full treat of the exhaust fumes in the cockpit. I turn the a/c on “high”, which helps some. I time my “hand drop” perfectly, and I have 700 gallons onboard. Allegedly. Things don’t always work out…. Continue reading →
A few days ago, sitting at a SEAT (Single Engine Air Tanker) base in Oregon, four of us were ready to go. The “dispatch order” (the order in which the tankers go out) had been posted. I was number 3 in line, and was ready to go. A dispatch came in, but it was just for two SEATS…ah, well, things don’t always work out…. Continue reading →
Welcome to “cafmustang.com”. This will be a repository of “stuff I write”. You are welcome to comment, but remember….general nastiness and meanness will not be tolerated. Unless, of course, I am the one being nasty and mean…(it is my blog, after all). You are also welcome to ask questions (which I may or may not answer, depending on my mood).
Currently, I am in Chester, CA, sitting on fire call. So far today, the biggest event is eating a couple of large trout caught by the SEAT base manager this morning early. From happily swimming in the lake, to being lunch, was only a few hours.
Temperatures are approaching 90. Humidity is up to 30%. (Mississippi would be jealous). We’ve done the dance of “we’re going….no we’re not”, so the morning is about normal. Normal “go to the grocery store to get something for lunch” (no cafeterias, no restaurants out here at the tanker base), normal preflight, set up for a dispatch…and read the paper. I have developed a comfort with the routine.
A few days ago we landed the Baron at “a medium sized city”. Class C airspace, for those of you who are aware of such things. The arrival was kind of different, as we kept getting vectored to follow slower and slower planes. “Baron, slow down, turn 30 degrees left, following a Cherokee Continue reading →
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