Above: “Reg” Armstrong, a supervisor with Fort Apache Helitack, at San Carlos Apache Airport (GLB), outside Globe, Arizona, waits for the call to deliver firefighters and equipment in the earliest moments of a new fire. This helitack unit is part of the US Bureau of Indian Affairs, one of several federal agencies involved in wildland firefighting.


Right: Pilot Santi Garcia positions sunscreens in the Mountain Air Helicopters Eurocopter AS350 2B1 that is contracted to support the Fort Apache Helitack crew.


Opposite, clockwise from top: The Erickson S-64F known as Bubba departs the San Carlos Apache Airport near Globe; at Falcon Field (KFFZ), in Mesa, it gets an up-close inspection by pilot Nik Shoemaker; a good scrubbing is administered by mechanic Dean Lowery (snorkeling from lakes means lots of dirty water is flung onto the aircraft by rotor wash).


52 ROTOR 2020 Q4


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