AMC aircraft mobilized to assist with Rocky Mountain wildfires

Published June 25, 2012
By Capt. Mauri Slater
618th Tanker Airlift Control Center Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- In support of firefighters battling out-of-control blazes across thousands of acres throughout the Rocky Mountains, two C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Wyoming National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing, and two C-130s from the 302nd Airlift Wing in Colorado Springs, Colo., all equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems, or MAFFS, deployed to Colorado, June 25, to assist with the wildfire suppression.

The MAFFS Program provides emergency firefighting capability to supplement commercial tanker support. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service can request help from Air Mobility Command's MAFFS units when all other air tankers are activated and fully committed.

"Once the aircraft are in place, we no longer command and control them here at the Tanker Airlift Control Center," said Rich Richardson, Senior Director of Operations, 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center).

Tactical control of the aircraft is given to U.S. Northern Command, through its Air Force Component Command, Air Forces Northern. The 153rd Air Expeditionary Group serves as the lead for coordination and support to the National Interagency Fire Center.

The 618th AOC (TACC) commands and controls AMC's airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation missions around the globe. Crews and units that fly MAFFS missions are aligned under AMC, and the 618th AOC (TACC) plays a key role in ensuring the necessary forces are available, funded and in-place to execute this unique and crucial mission.

A MAFFS unit can drop its load of 3,000 gallons of retardant in less than five seconds over an area one-quarter of a mile long and 60 feet wide. Following a drop, a plane can return to the staging area and be refilled and airborne in less than 20 minutes.

"The MAFFS capability is a competency that is only provided by Guard and Reserve teams," said Lt. Col. Greg Webster, Air Force reserve advisor to the 618th AOC (TACC) commander. "However, the TACC facilitates the deployment of Guard and Reserve forces to support USNORTHCOM requirements. Additionally, they provide any type of maintenance support if the unit's home station is unable to provide assistance. It is a great example of how our Total Force team works together to support our nation."

There is one Air Force Reserve Command unit and three Air National Guard units that participate in the MAFFS Program. The two aircraft from the 153rd will be replaced by two C-130s from the 146th Airlift Wing in Channel Islands, Calif., June 30.