Exploratory study of c-130 usage in forest service operation

Abstract

Ground-air-ground usage results are presented for two EC-103Q and two L-382G aircraft being used in support of USFS in fighting forest fires. The results are based on flights containing retardant drops as well as ferry and maintenance flights, with 1,437 total flights recorded during 2016-2019. It is shown that the average flight time is 39 minutes, the maximum altitudes remain less than the service ceiling for the airplane, and the takeoff and landing airspeeds and weights remain well below the limits. In addition, the firefighting flights are separated into five individual phases. Two phases are for the cruising flight to and from the fire area and three phases are associated with the retardant drop. Relevant results for each phase are presented and discussed.