Use of UAVs in Future Aerial Firefighting I. Introduction An airplane was maneuvering to deliver fire retardant when its left wing separated.”1 An issue far too severe, yet with proper vision, awareness, and initiative can be resolved, is the current air tanker fleet retrofitted to fight forest fires in order to protect the welfare of this nation. Each time a pilot ascends, he puts his and his crews’ lives at risk, especially in the case of aerial firefighting. The average age of the airtanker fleet recently in commission is fifty years old; much of these are WWII era military aircraft that were later converted. 11 The intended mission of these planes has proven to be far less intense as multiple “converts” have experienced mid-air wing loss resulting in the death of those onboard. This issue is ongoing even though the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) “discontinue[d] the use of contract [antiquated,] large airtankers” ;10 the future of American fire aviation and the moral obligation to safety demands modernization within this sector.10 Paired with the innovation of an item amass ideas of ways to use such thing. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the selection the public is aware of, such as the Predator drone, is one such prime example. Law enforcement, aerial firefighting, humanitarian aid, and high-risk rescue missions could all use the technology of the UAV to save lives, both domestic and foreign, both directly and indirectly.13 Specific to aerial firefighting UAVs are currently sparingly used; their sole purpose currently is only surveillance, mapping out the hot spots and danger zones of forest fires. Yes, a major component of this sparse use is FAA regulati... ... middle of paper ... ... E-mail interview. 31 Jan. 2012.”Overview.” University of Colorado Boulder. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. 16“Praxis: Drones -- Interview with a Drone Pilot.” Interview by Marc Pitzke. Spiegel.de. 12 Mar. 2010. Web. 25 Jan. 2012 17Scott, William B. “Airtankers Grounded.” Aviation Week & Space Technology 160.20 (2004): 31-32. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Jan. 2012. 18Scott, William B. “Airtankers under Fire.” Aviation Week & Space Technology 160.19 (2004): 68-69. General Science Collection. Web. 27 Jan. 2012. 19Scott, William B. “Is It Safe to Fly?” Aviation Week & Space Technology 162.16 (2005): 62-64. Academic Search Premier. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. 20“Testimony - Statement of Henry Krakowski.” FAA.gov. 13 Sept. 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2012. 21“U.S. Forest Service Announces Strategy to Replace Large Airtankers for Wildfire Efforts.” FS.fed.us. 10 Feb. 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2012.
Airmen: An Illustrated History: 1939-1949.” Oct. 2012. Vol. 65 Issue 4, pg. 316-319. 4p. Ebsco Host. Tucker, Phillip Thomas, 1953. Web.2014.
In today’s world, the use of airplanes in wars or in everyday life has become a part of how we live as human beings. Removing the air forces of the world is like taking a step back in time when wars were only fought on land or sea. WWI began only eleven short years after the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 19031 and yet aircrafts were being used for surveillance and eventually combat purposes. It is understood that these aircrafts were primitive, but they laid down the foundation for what we know today as fighter jets. The Fokker Eindecker “revolutionized air combat by successfully employing a synchronized forward -firing machine gun mounted on the engine cowling”2. Because this airplane became the first to successfully use a synchronized machine gun, it allowed its pilots to become the first aerial combat tactitions3.
The Civil Reserve Air Fleet is a partnership between the Department of Defense and commercial airlines where the airlines contractually commit a portion of their aircraft and crews to be used by the Department in the event of any level of military conflict. These aircraft can be “called up” and required to respond quickly to provide airlift support to the Department of Defense. There are minimum required levels of participation in order for the airlines to be eligible, and in turn they receive peace time business including passenger and cargo movement approximately in proportion to their commitment level. The program is divided into three segments which include varying amounts and sizes of aircraft that serve specific purposes. There are also three levels of activation depending on the severity of the conflict, which also require different amounts and sizes of aircraft. This program has been in place for nearly 53 years, and has become an essential partnership required for an effective United States military. The following pages are an investigation various aspects of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet such as its purpose, history, and effectiveness.
Lowe, A. (1998). Air Marshal William Avery Bishop. [WWW Document]. Retrieved May 2nd, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.billybishop.net/zone/bishop.html
Thesis. Air War College, 1987. http://www.airwar.edu//a>. Maxwell, Alabama: United States Air Force, 1987. DTIC Online -.
Virtually everywhere in the United States is affected to one degree of another by wildland fires. Even if a community is not directly involved with the fire itself, chances are that some of its members have gone to help fight wildland fires in other areas of the country by providing manpower, financial support, or other humanitarian aid.
- - -, dir. “Tactical Air Control Party Specialist (TACP).” U.S. Air Force. U.S. Air Force, n.d. Web. 7 Feb. 2012. .
Lawson, Robert L., and Barrett Tillman. U.S. Navy Air Combat: 1939-1946. Osceola, WI: MBI Pub., 2000. Print.
"Wrights’ Perspective on the Role of Airplanes in War." Wright Stories Wright Brothers Inventing The Airplane History of Flight Kitty Hawk Wright Contemporaries Military Airplane RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr.
Elias, Bartholomew. "Aviation Security: Outlook." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 2 May 2014.
Final Report No. 1793 by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. (n.d.). Retrieved from skybrary: http://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/989.pdf
Ever since I was little I was amazed at the ability for a machine to fly. I have always wanted to explore ideas of flight and be able to actually fly. I think I may have found my childhood fantasy in the world of aeronautical engineering. The object of my paper is to give me more insight on my future career as an aeronautical engineer. This paper was also to give me ideas of the physics of flight and be to apply those physics of flight to compete in a high school competition.
The use of drones as weapons of war and delivery and surveillance systems should not be dismissed because many people do not realize the real capabilities of drones and how they can be used to better the world through efficient air strikes, faster delivery times, and useful surveillance. Some of the most common misconceptions about drones arise due to the lack of knowledge about what drones are. A drone is a remote controlled, pilotless aircraft that can be used to survey an area, conduct stealth missions, and deliver supplies into difficult to reach areas (Drone). Unmanned aircraft are also, contrary to popular belief, not solely machines that kill without even a thought to who is being fired upon. They have proved to be effective surveillance units in areas that may be dangerous for manned aircraft to fly, along with the potential to be reliable delivery units (Drones).
But it is also a fact that this century is also trying to use this UAV technology in a different perspective, away from war or destruction and is hoping to create a new series of real achievements by deploying it. Especially, it goes true for Business sector which can add quality service badge on its shoulder by using it in a way more productive, economic and fruitful for mutual benefits.
Bosnor, Kevin. "How Flying Cars Will Work." Howstuffworks. How Stuff Works Inc., 1998. Web. 24 Jan.