Brazil’s Air Force, Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB), is escalating its airborne firefighting capabilities. The FAB’s First Troop Transport Group (1º GTT) – Zeus Squadron, kicked off an intensive training session centered around combating inflight fires using the Embraer KC-390 Millennium aircraft.
The exercise, held at Campo Grande Air Base, started on July 15 and is slated to run through to July 23. This vital operational training signifies a crucial leap forward for the FAB, gearing up for future missions involving this multi-mission aircraft.
Pilot teams and ground staff of the 1º GTT are receiving comprehensive training to execute secure operations. Simulating diverse terrains, the training involves conducting flights in flat, lateral, and descending drop zones, approximately 150 feet or 46 meters high.
At the heart of the operation is the KC-390’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS II), designed to deliver large-scale aerial firefighting. The system includes a tube that releases water through the aircraft’s left rear door, able to discharge up to 3,000 gallons, roughly 11,300 liters, of water on fire-stricken areas, with or without fire retardant, based on standard ground coverage criteria and different types of terrain.
Crucially, the MAFFS II system allows the aircraft to remain pressurized, thereby maintaining the KC-390’s performance and surpassing the efficiency of its first-generation counterpart. Additionally, the ground reservoir, used for replenishing the aircraft’s water supply, has a sizable 22,000-liter capacity.
The MAFFS II system is capable of quick installation or removal from the aircraft’s cargo compartment via its trailer, requiring only the aircraft’s electrical power for operation. This system has been widely used since its introduction, as seen with FAB’s C-130 Hercules aircraft, and is considered one of the most straightforward, comprehensive, and functional tools for firefighting.
As reported per our media partner Aeroin, Lieutenant-Colonel Aviator Bruno Américo Pereira, Commander of the 1º GTT, stated that the training aims to integrate another ability into the aircraft. «The ability to execute specific procedures of Air Force Action concerning airborne firefighting is a challenging mission due to its characteristic low releases, close to the terrain, which demands a lot from the crew,» he explained.
According to the FAB, the MAFFS II system is highly advantageous in firefighting operations as it has the capacity to carry a large volume of water and flame retardants, and due to its modularity, it can be swiftly installed on any compatible aircraft.
Images: Embraer / Brazilian Air Force via YouTube
