air tankers & air attack training

[aprswatcher]

Air Tankers and Air Attack planes have been training (re-certification?) the past 2 days up here in Northern Colorado.
Todays practice area is approx. 2 miles north of Gross Reservoir.

freqs have been:

168.65 National Flight Following
127.325 air to air
122.925 multi-com fixed wing
123.975 Jefco tanker base

73, Rex

 

[rfburns]

Is this SEAT training? Aero Union is accepting sealed bids for their air tankers. Bids will be opened on Feb. 28 @ their new Mc Clellan home. Rumor is that the Forest Service wants to use C-130 J models.

 

[aprswatcher]

callsigns I've heard are 1 Alpha Alpha and tanker 28, the 1AA I believe he id'd as "Turbo Commander"
not sure about tanker 28. in the past the "seats" usually have a 3 digit callsign i.e. tanker 328, tanker 287.

The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard fly the MAFFS mission for the US Forest Service when
requested. Peterson (Colorado Springs), Cheyenne and Charlotte all have C-130H-3's and
Channel Islands in California has the newer C-130J.

The actual MAFFS platform is identical among the 4 units, it is called MAFFS II and discharges out thru
the left paratroop door.

73, Rex