Piloting Super Scoopers: What It Takes to Pilot Firefighting Aircraft
Reduced visibility from thick smoke, coupled with turbulence created by the fire's heat, can create perilous flying conditions.
USA Today27d
Water tanks in the sky: Firefighting planes help ground crews combat California wildfires
Fighting the deadly wildfires in Southern California requires a coordinated ... Specialized aircraft are dropping massive amounts of water and colorful fire retardant to aid thousands of ...
PBS28d
Planes are dumping ocean water to fight the Los Angeles fires. Here’s why using saltwater is typically a last resort
Using seawater to fight fires can sound like a simple solution – the Pacific Ocean has a seemingly endless supply of water. In emergencies like Southern California is facing, it’s often the ...
Can California use ocean salt water to put out fires? Here are three key factors for L.A. firefighters
Salt water from the ocean is an option for fighting L.A.'s fires, but it's more complicated than simply going to the beach to transport water to the hillsides.
Drone pilot to plead guilty in collision that grounded aircraft fighting Palisades fire
A drone that authorities say was flying in restricted airspace on Jan. 9 put a fist-sized hole in the wing of a Super Scooper ...
Hosted on MSN28d
Can California use ocean salt water to put out fires?
With over 60 aircraft, California has the largest civilian aviation fleet for firefighting in the world, according to Cal Fire. However, only a few of them are capable of scooping up water from ...
NBC Los Angeles28d
High winds do more than spread fires — they keep firefighting aircraft on the ground
Aerial support during the California wildfires has been grounded at times by high winds. Here's what the aircrafts do and why they can't fly in certain conditions.
Hosted on MSN28d
Firefighting planes are dumping ocean water on the Los Angeles fires − why using saltwater is typically a last resort
Using seawater to fight fires can sound like a simple solution – the Pacific Ocean has a seemingly endless supply of water. In emergencies like Southern California is facing, it’s often the ...
Victorville Daily Press27d
Water tanks in the sky: How firefighting planes help ground crews combat LA wildfires
Fighting the deadly wildfires in Southern California requires a coordinated ... Specialized aircraft are dropping massive amounts of water and colorful fire retardant to aid thousands of ...
Smithsonian Magazine28d
Firefighting Planes Are Dumping Ocean Water on the Los Angeles Fires—Why Using Saltwater Is Typically a Last Resort
Firefighters battling the deadly wildfires that raced through the Los Angeles area in January 2025 have been hampered by a limited supply of freshwater. So, when the winds are calm enough, skilled ...
Yahoo News28d
Water tanks in the sky: How firefighting planes help ground crews combat LA wildfires
Fighting the deadly wildfires in Southern California requires a coordinated team ... providing fire suppression from the air. Specialized aircraft are dropping massive amounts of water and colorful ...