Fire Detection

stuckinthemiddle · Post by **stuckinthemiddle** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:07 pm

my lifes goal is waterbombing, thats it. im a ways off though, some of you guys have talked about fire detection and bird dogging. how do you get into that seat? what are the requirements like?

water wings · Post by **water wings** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 7:53 am

last i heard, you need 1500 float minimum to be considered for Tanker..(preferably DHC-2 and 3 and up)
TT, i dunno.
Fire detection is usually 100 ME PIC... MNR mins, 1000 TT MNR mins...
birddog is next step after that with 2000 TT (i'm sure someone on this forum can confirm/deny all of these #s...)
it's a long process and to get onto a tanker... you pretty much have to wait for someone to keel over or retire.
Hang in there, i have the same wish list...
ww

Big Pistons Forever · Post by **Big Pistons Forever** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 9:22 am

CONAIR mins are 2500 tt with 500 MPIC. Turbine, mountain, round engine, float time desired. Traditionally new hires have experience well above the mins. There are really no low hour entry positions in this business so if you want to work towards a firebombing career get a well rounded experience base first. Like every other area of aviation contacts count for a lot so talk to folks in the business any chance you get.

CLguy · Post by **CLguy** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:32 pm

Just a little heads up from Ontario. We have never hired a pilot from a Birddog to a Tanker. Why, I don't know, maybe because most guys in the Birddog didn't have any water time, but just a little heads up to the ones hoping for a career in Ontario.

All of our hires have come either direct entry or from the Twin Otters or Turbo Beavers.