The call came in at just shy of 06:30 hours Sunday morning. The fire that has ravished the area from just south of Glenns Ferry through Hagerman and rolling south has engulfed much of the Magic Valley. Two fire suppression Helo’s were called upon to deliver air fire suppression to the blaze. Reserve aircraft is on standby if needed. AT 15:00 hours AyreWolf Aviation has dropped many gallons of water snorkeled out of the Snake River and delivered from overhead, since that 06:30 hour call. At 08:45 hours I took time to snag a quick breakfast before refueling to go back to attacking the fire. Here is what is tragic however. The fact that it takes our crews 3 hours from time of call to get in the air from Bountiful SkyPark Utah to fly to Idaho refuel take on retardant and get back in the air is really ridiculous. Considering it would only take half that long to get in the air if only a hangar location that someone had to rent in the Magic Valley cheap could be found. Yet in the area, there is NO HANGAR space anywhere in the valley. None. The question becomes why? While funds may be limited throughout the Union nation, including Idaho, the fact that while many industries have either trimmed or reduced capital expenses, Specialty aviation that includes air farming(crop dusting) fire suppression, air med, and even just personal sport and private aviation has doubled spending money. In fact of all industries in America, Aviation in general has not downsized, rather has increased . With many people tired of spending long lines and time at airports, serious security checkpoints, and so on, many have learned how to fly. Get their own private aviation certificate and either time share aircraft, rent aircraft or just outright buy aircraft. Experimental aircraft has also seen a rise, in both popularity, and mechanical types, building their own birds. As well as clubs like ours that group buy aircraft or build vintage warbirds and/or aircraft like the Lady and other vertical aircraft(helicopters). You would think that forward thinking airport managers would consider expanding hangar space offerings, in essence build more hangars at municipal airports.
From the information I gathered flying our fire suppression missions Sunday , the smoke is heaviest from Hagerman to Buhl, to west of Jackpot. The smoke thins out over from West Point to Kimberly. Some sunshine could be seen near Twin Falls to Hansen Idaho. Tonight all our birds will have to fly back to Bountiful, crews rest, and hit the fire early in the morning with a 3 to 4 hour delay, from take off from Bountiful Utah to touchdown here in Idaho, take on retardant then get back in the air. By the flyway here, there is no manned ATC in The Magic Valley except for Twin Falls Idaho. All others are simply weather stations. Which means toggling between BIAFC air channels and general Aviation channels including Navicomm to keep from hitting other aircraft including airline traffic.
Need to get prepped for tonight’s assault , we are under a required 8 hour rest, until 23:00 hours. Currently aircraft is at Buhl’s airport. We need more Hangar space , anyone out there that reads this that has hangar space to rent for $400.00 a month or less should get in contact with me at ayrewolf@gmail.com .
L8R Confederate Aviators
Quote of the day:
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. - Thomas A. Edison
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