CALFIRE copter new numbering system

[brushfire21]

This isn't exactly a radio system change but since a lot of folks here monitor and listen, I felt it would pertain to the forum. If I did this in error, please delete or move to proper forum and my apologies.

I didn't see this posted before but CALFIRE has switched up copter identifiers a few weeks ago if anyone missed it. In short they are going to a 600 series number for all agency (EU as well possibly) copters. The reasoning given is to be able rotate aircraft between bases to get the most from maintenance cycles (among other things) and not be tied to down specific legacy bases numbers.

As part of this change, the helitack crew number will be removed (example Helitack 102) and will use the base ID as part of there radio identification (aka Vina Helitack).


Here is a list of Federal/State aircraft numbering:

100 series- Large Air Tankers (LAT’s)​

200 series- Water Scoopers​

300- no standard convention​

400- no standard convention​

500- USFS Region 5 copters​

600- CALFIRE aircraft (Rotary and some fixed wing)​

700- CWN (Call when needed) Type I copters/ helitankers​

800- SIngle Engine Air tankers (SEATs)​

900- Very Large Air Tanks (VLAT’s)​

CALFIRE Numbering System:

600-619 CAL FIRE HAWKS​

620-629 CAL FIRE Type II Copters (UH-1H)​

630-639 Reserved for Type III’s (Bell 407, Astars etc)​

640-649 Intel Platforms​

650-659 ASM’s, Spare AA’s, ATGS Training Aircraft​

690-699 Spare Helitenders​

 

[officer_415]

 

[es93546]

This isn't exactly a radio system change but since a lot of folks here monitor and listen, I felt it would pertain to the forum. If I did this in error, please delete or move to proper forum and my apologies.

I didn't see this posted before but CALFIRE has switched up copter identifiers a few weeks ago if anyone missed it. In short they are going to a 600 series number for all agency (EU as well possibly) copters. The reasoning given is to be able rotate aircraft between bases to get the most from maintenance cycles (among other things) and not be tied to down specific legacy bases numbers.

As part of this change, the helitack crew number will be removed (example Helitack 102) and will use the base ID as part of there radio identification (aka Vina Helitack).


Here is a list of Federal/State aircraft numbering:

100 series- Large Air Tankers (LAT’s)​

200 series- Water Scoopers​

300- no standard convention​

400- no standard convention​

500- USFS Region 5 copters​

600- CALFIRE aircraft (Rotary and some fixed wing)​

700- CWN (Call when needed) Type I copters/ helitankers​

800- SIngle Engine Air tankers (SEATs)​

900- Very Large Air Tanks (VLAT’s)​

CALFIRE Numbering System:

600-619 CAL FIRE HAWKS​

620-629 CAL FIRE Type II Copters (UH-1H)​

630-639 Reserved for Type III’s (Bell 407, Astars etc)​

640-649 Intel Platforms​

650-659 ASM’s, Spare AA’s, ATGS Training Aircraft​

690-699 Spare Helitenders​

I ran across the official release of this information a month or two ago, as well as the posted YouTube video and it slipped my mind to post the info. It should be noted that the Tanker 00 - Tanker 101 series is used for large air tankers as well. California State Air tankers use the number series 70-101. The feds use Tanker 00 - Tanker 69. These are national numbers assigned by NIFC, as those in the 102-199 numbers also. The helitankers are now using their FAA registration as ID, i.e. "Helitanker 3-2 Papa Juliette." There has been pressure for R5 to number its Type 2 and 3 helicopters with the FAA registration (tail number) like the rest of the country. They have resisted due to the standardization shown above. I noticed that the ship on the Inyo has its R5 number labeled on the bottom of the cab portion of the helicopter.

I always found the R5 system of helicopter numbering to be useful. I didn't have every helicopter number memorized, but in my truck I carried a list. That way, when I was on a fire or other incident and heard "Helicopter 517" I knew it was from the Stanislaus and is rappel rated. A low number, like "Helicopter 501 or 502" I had memorized as being from the Klamath. This was useful as I knew they were used to very steep slopes and lots of timber. They are numbered from north to south so I knew the 527+ number indicated it was one of the 3 Los Padres ships. It made me more comfortable, when assigned to a fire, and being told to meet at a location to be picked up by a helicopter, to have some idea of where it was assigned. It may not have been important to many others, but when I'm walking toward rotating blades, a jet engine near idle, with a pilot wearing a helmet and face mask, a green flight suit, it makes me feel a little reassured to know where its coming from.

When I started out in the early 1970's in USFS Region 3 (AZ and NM), our helicopters were numbered in a similar fashion. The Kaibab's ship was "Helicopter 336." However, without the helo being marked with that assigned number, other aircraft find it easier to communicate using the prominent tail number to know who is who while in the air.

 

[norcalscan]

It's hard for a lot to lose the "identity" and camaraderie of a team/crew/base to a tail number (or callsign), but it's an unfortunate necessity the new ship's maintenance cycles forced into the system.

So far I have the following:
476DF - C606 old C305
480DF - C610 old C406
485DF - C606 old C205
487DF - C603 old C104
492DF - C612 old C904
498DF - C622 old Huey C406