The "grounding" was yesterday. And if you're saying they'd not have a handheld and headset adapter around in case of loss of a single on-board Comm radio, hmmm. Sounds not "Boy Scoutish" enough for me.
Some of the pilots might have a handheld in case of in flight failure. Can't say I ever discussed with them. I do remember that many of the pilots are long time ag pilots who don't do well with radios. Getting them to manage freqs on the FM sets was a challenge. Tone controls and such were outside their experience. I remember programming their panel radios and trying explain the freq plan. Usually just set it for the current fire and let'em go. But if the comm was out on the ground no way could they launch with a handheld. At least that's the way Federal contracts were. These are state but I assume they were similar since the Feds will use them.
I thought the SEAT guys did their own spotting and only the "heavies" needed a scout aircraft/spotter?
They are for initial attack but on a going fire with multiple aircraft there will be an airborne controller - the Air Attack. Keeps folks out of each others way and coordinates with ground on priorities. They'll pull the helios out of the was when the tankers are in bound. I think all SEATs are initial attack qualified, some heavys are some aren't. Lead planes may act as Air Attack until a dedicated plane arrives.
They did say a couple of helos launched. Maybe the SEAT couldn't coordinate with the helos properly due to a busted Comm radio.
Lots of possibilities there, including that the oh-so-vigilant news media just got the story flat-wrong. It just piqued my interest.
I'll bet there was an air attack in the middle. Helos and SEATs wouldn't coordinate with each other (and ground). Too much to do when they need to fly low in the windy mtns.
I've seen lots of stuff ground tankers or delay a runs.
I noticed that Channel 7 cornered a West Metro crew (Lieutenant, Engineer, and Firefighter) during their supposed "rest time" this morning and kept them doing interviews for hours early this morning and wondered, "Where the hell is the PIO?!" too. Those guys should have been getting some rest.
They reported that a Federal Type I team was enroute to take over today sometime. I doubt the media will get their hooks into anyone below the rank of Captain tonight for their air time, and it'll be with the PIO's approval.
You're right there. The structure guys have come a long way in the last 20 years but still aren't wildland fire experts.
