Several natural disasters have affected Colombia over the past week. However, the preparedness of the Colombian Air Force (FAC) for these new emergencies has improved, in contrast to last year’s improvisation, when systems were inoperative, and there was a shortage of helicopters equipped for fighting forest fires. This led to criticism at the time, but the situation appears to have improved based on recent observations.
Firstly, it is important to highlight the, albeit somewhat delayed, restoration of the MAFFS II (Modular Airborne Firefighting System), which the National Risk and Disaster Management Fund finally maintained, allowing its use on the FAC’s C-130 Hercules aircraft. This system enables the direct combat of fires by deploying 3,000 gallons of water and retardant.
In response, and learning from past mistakes, the FAC conducted training on the use of this system prior to emergencies. A C-130 aircraft was transferred from the Air Transport Military Command (CATAM) to Air Combat Command No. 2 in Villavicencio, Meta, “with the aim of strengthening firefighting capabilities.”
In this way, the Colombian Air Force strengthens one of its key capabilities by continuously retraining its crews’ skills and competencies, with the goal of safeguarding lives and protecting natural resources.
Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Ángel Cubides, pilot of the C-130 Hercules aircraft, stated: “This year, with resources from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, the MAFFS II system was restored. This system has been used in previous years for firefighting. Today we conducted training with the C-130 crews from CATAM, regaining these capabilities and reviewing each procedure to support the ground teams in fire suppression.”
On the other hand, due to maintenance issues with the Mil Mi-17 helicopters, UH-60 Black Hawks and Bell UH-1s have been responding to natural emergencies. In the Valle del Cauca department, specifically in the hills of Cali, a UH-60 helicopter crew from the Air Force controlled the flames that were consuming the areas of Patio Bonito, Las Marranitas, and Ventiaderos, in the Pichindé district. With the support of firefighters, a portable pool was set up to supply the Bambi Bucket, which was used to control the fires. All flights were coordinated by the Air Combat Command No. 7.
The strong support provided by Colombian Air Force aircraft to relief agencies allowed for the control of over 90% of the fires in these areas, with 25 strategic water drops totaling 13,950 gallons of water and 35 gallons of fire retardant.
In the Huila department, where fires have affected up to 4,000 hectares of native forest, UH-1 Huey II helicopters deployed from Air Combat Command No. 4 have performed 40 drops, using nearly 9,000 gallons of water and fire retardant. This highlights the usefulness and capabilities of this helicopter, despite the calls from some generals to retire it early, potentially replacing it with the Leonardo AW 139M, a costly helicopter the armed forces do not yet possess.
Another aircraft proving valuable has been the C-295, which, using the Caylym system, supported the municipality of Aipe by dropping 20 boxes containing 5,283 gallons of water. Colonel Andrés Maya, Deputy Commander of the Air Transport Military Command (CATAM), said: “Today, we are responding to the country’s needs and have deployed a C-295 aircraft with approximately 20 Guardian fire suppression kits to the municipality of Palermo, Huila. The entire crew is ready and available to address this emergency situation in the face of imminent fires.”
