I found out about the Fire Boss a couple weeks ago and decided flying it must be the best job in the world. Not surprised to see I was right. Funnily enough, just a couple weeks after learning about the Fire Boss they are flying over my house to fight a fire not three miles from me, helping to save my brother's house.
Honestly there isn’t any other job in aware of that surpasses that job. Saving lives, a pilot that practically unrestricted, Corner office with gorgeous view… i could go on. Excellent Video. I subbed.
That is such a serious job, but it looks like so much fun. The WWII sim air combat pilot in me feels like every low pass you make dropping water is a quick ground attack pass dropping ordinance behind you. Also Beautiful video by the way.
The first try at a prototype, floated, ag aircraft based scooping aircraft was a Thrush which it was quickly realized was inadequate. Then the AT802 came along and made the concept viable which now is the ever more successful Fireboss. So yeah… That’s the conclusion you come up with whey ya “suck on it” :)
Brave dedicated pilots and service crews. Maybe, just maybe enough of the army black budgets for a couple years and build fleets of these aircraft and new MARS water bombers instead of bombs that destroy lives. Sorry, I know that sound of the MARS water bombers and how a fleet of 12 could easily have controlled these larger fires in BC, Alberta, Sask, and California.
Awesome video - really enjoyed it! I've been puzzling over how to get from newly-minted commercial pilot to a fixed-wing aerial fire job. It seems some come from ag aviation, where you can get very low-level flying experience. Any other common paths?
Ag time, especially Air Tractor time, is (with very few exceptions) non-negotiable to get into a SEAT or FireBoss. Beyond that most everyone has a very diverse aviation background. Very few are exclusively Ag pilots, most have flown a mix of freight, bush, overseas contracts, flight instruction, military, etc, - the common denominator is that most aren't heavy on autopilot time.
Beautiful video! Maybe a stupid question but do you normally have any ground support keeping watercraft out of the body of water you're filling up at? Or do you also have to watch out for random pleasure boats hanging out in addition to all of the crazy flying through fire and smoke?
Occasionally we’ll have local law enforcement keeping a lane open for us to scoop, but usually we make our intentions known to boaters with a fly-by, laying down a smoke trail where we intend to scoop. Most boaters are very considerate, but it’s not uncommon that a jet ski will want to race or a few boats crowd in a bit for a photo.
I've only been in the FireBoss for 3 years, but have been in specialty aviation for over 20. I checked out your channel and subscribed - very cool! I've got a little time in the Porter in Africa - loved it except that it was a tight fit and not too comfortable for extended flights.
Sorry, what aircragt is that? Over her we only have Canadair or helicopters doing that job. Never seen a single engined aircraft doing rhis. Amazing job!
It’s an AT8T FireBoss. We can carry 800 gallons and typically operate in flights of 2 - 8 aircraft on initial attack of wildfires. We frequently work with helos and 415’s in the US.
Dropping is mostly Kentucky windage - it depends on the terrain, winds, updrafts, etc, but we do have infrared cameras that help us see hot spots thru the smoke.
Awesome video. What are the requirements to qualify to fly one of these? What is the path you took? I’m a low time pilot with my cpl, multi IFR, land and sea and I’d like to get into aerial firefighting
Here's a link to an interview with our chief pilot Jesse Weaver detailing what the OAS and Dauntless Air are looking for in pilot candidates. I did about 15 years of overseas contract work before I got into ag flying and then the FireBoss. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kSAi4Rn7HEs.htmlsi=Nq-AsDTCvtLrF39E
I just finished flight school and did an ag pilot apprenticeship, I am going for my seaplane and now all i need is a turbine conversion. HOW DO I GET INTO THIS PROFESSION
Here's a quick summary of qualifications to fly the FireBoss for Dauntless Air by our chief pilot Jesse Weaver. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kSAi4Rn7HEs.htmlsi=xKJ-QwETuLQGMdnQ
Hey Brent, were you by chance at the 2021 NAAA convention this year. I think I might have seen a few of your guys with dauntless shirts on there. Not sure if you guys have your own convention for fire that you attend. Anyways, was just curious. I'm a new AG pilot that just started in a Pawnee hoping to end up in fire at some point.
Here's an interview with our chief pilot where he talks about that: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kSAi4Rn7HEs.htmlsi=gFrLV3-9YPrtYWbG
Here's an interview with our chief pilot where he talks about that: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kSAi4Rn7HEs.htmlsi=gFrLV3-9YPrtYWbG
Here's an interview with our chief pilot where he talks about that: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kSAi4Rn7HEs.htmlsi=gFrLV3-9YPrtYWbG
It depends on the drop. You don't want to drop at more than 120 KIAS, and a steep drop in the mountains may require power back on the stop and full flaps. If the smoke is thick we turn the ignitors on continuous.
@@brentvoris4399 I appreciate the response, didn't think I would get one lol. I'm quite a bit short on the hours but maybe when I get those numbers up you'll be hearing from me
The best job is when you are surrounded by beautiful and young stewardesses in stockings and heels, not when you are surrounded by alligators in a swamp with not one living soul for dozens of kilometers.
