aerial firefighting

[OregonTrail]

Hello everyone, I have always been interested in aerial firefighting and now that ive finally got some time under my belt im looking at all avenues for my aviation career. I had a short stint as a wildland firefighter for a contract crew before I began flying. Im just looking for anyone who has any information about it. I know there are several jobs such as spotting, dropping smokejumpers and retardent.

To date I have 750 hours 59 multi and working on my cfii and mei.

Thanks.

 

[Speed Pilot]

You'll most likely start with Air Attack in a twin. Mins are 1500tt, 1000pic, 200multi-pic plus some others but those are the ones that hold most guys up. A few seasons doing that and a tanker or lead plane job shouldn't be horribly far away.

 

[HVYMETALDRVR]

I knew a aerial firefighting pilot once though I lost touch with him. Aviation is definitely an industry of networking and this holds true 10x more for aerial firefighting since the community is pretty small. A good start that might but a little easier to get into is cropdusting and you'll probably make some connections in AF along the way. Thats how he started and he said a lot of guys would spray in they're off-season to keep flying. As for him... he partied his ass off in Thailand for the slow months.