Guard Gets New Firefighting Wings

[unhappycamper]

Guard Gets New Firefighting Wings
January 30, 2009
Army News Service|by MSgt. Mike R. Smith

ARLINGTON, Va. – A long anticipated upgrade to the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) that’s used to battle the nation's wildfires was recently approved for operational use, months before the next fire season.

MAFFS II was approved for use on the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft, according Air Guard officials here.

The state has two of the new systems that were showcased today to state officials and local media at McClellan Air Park in Sacramento, Calif.

MAFFS is owned by the U.S. Forest Service and are flown on Air Guard and Air Force Reserve C-130 aircraft. The Guard and Reserve wings, the governors and the firefighting and federal agencies team up to operate MAFFS nationwide in wildfire responses. The aircraft and air crews are always ready to deploy in anticipation of a state emergency.

"This new system is more capable; it can make a more effective retardant line and is more efficient," said Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Dave Condit, deputy commander of the MAFFS Expeditionary Air Group, which overseas three Air Guard wings and one Reserve wing. "For those two reasons combined, we hope it's a more effective resource for fighting wildfires."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/army-news/guard-gets-new-firefighting-wings.html?col=1186032369115