Amentum Supports State of California Firefighting on the CAL FIRE Program
Since 2001, Amentum, under its legacy company DynCorp International, has provided flight operations, aircraft maintenance, and organizational interface/communications for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Aircraft Maintenance Services program. Amentum’s services include providing uniquely trained aerial firefighting pilots for CAL FIRE’s fixed wing aircraft and the staffing for the mechanics in support of the State of California’s aerial firefighting program. We maintain CAL FIRE’s S-2T air tankers, OV-10 air tactical aircraft, UH-1H Super Hueys, S-70i Blackhawks, C-130H training aircraft (bailed from USCG) and Beechcraft King Airs. Most of the maintenance is performed at McClellan Park near Sacramento, CA.
During fire season, Amentum maintenance personnel and pilots are stationed at multiple air attack bases and maintenance personnel are stationed at helitack bases strategically located throughout California to provide maintenance support for the fixed wing and rotor wing aircraft, including the newly acquired S-70i CAL FIREHawk. California averages more than 4,800 wildland fires annually. Our ability to provide ready, available aircraft in a dynamic, responsive way for this exceptionally high-visibility program is a key element in Amentum recently winning the award for the follow-on contract to support the CAL FIRE mission.
Project Highlights
- For the ninth year, won the 2020 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Diamond Award for Excellence in recognition of its commitment to aviation maintenance training, a very prestigious and challenging award requiring 100 percent of the program maintenance crew to complete additional training
- Uses Rapid Initial Attack doctrine to respond to fire starts quickly
- Manages, operates, and maintains State of California aerial firefighting fleet at multiple locations for over 18 years providing both pilots and maintenance technicians for 45 fixed wing aircraft (including air tankers, command/control aircraft & training aircraft)
- Studies show that there is a significant reduction in fire duration if fire-fighting aircraft deploy to fire within 60 minutes; Amentum’s pilots provide air tanker and air tactical response within 20 minutes, significantly contributing to the initial attack success rate in CA around 95%