Airborne firefighting exercise to be held in S.C.
Wednesday, 07 April 2010
Staff Report

GREENVILLE – Donaldson Field at the S.C. Technology and Aviation Center in Greenville will be the site of an airborne firefighting exercise April 26 through May 2.

The exercise will test the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, which is a self-contained, reusable 3,000-gallon aerial fluid dispense system that allows Lockheed C-130 cargo/utility aircraft to be converted into wildland firefighting air tankers. The system is meant to supplement the existing commercial air tanker support during wildfires.

More than 500 military and civilian personnel and 18 aircraft will participate in the exercise, which is being instituted by the U.S. Forest Service and involves four airlift wing units. Three of the units are Air National Guard units from North Carolina, Wyoming and California. The fourth unit is a U.S. Air Force Reserve wing from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

Officials at SCTAC also expect an influx of visitors to the area during the testing, which will consist of an estimated 90 flights per day during the course of the week, and is only held at Donaldson Field once every five years.

A special demonstration will be held for VIPs and media April 29, during which one of the planes will fly over to drop water on the runway.