Agua en Minutos: La precisión técnica tras cada descarga en el bosque

Por: Jose Luis Martín Enriquez

España cuenta con una de las flotas de medios aéreos contra incendios forestales más avanzadas de Europa, articulada entre la Administración General del Estado (Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico / Ejército del Aire y del Espacio) y las diferentes Comunidades Autónomas.

Organización Operativa

El 43 Grupo de Fuerzas Aéreas: Unidad del Ejército del Aire y del Espacio que opera y mantiene los aviones anfibios pesados bajo el lema «¡Apaga y vámonos!». Su base principal es Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid), desplegándose en destacamentos estratégicos durante la campaña estival, donde operan normalmente en: Zaragoza, Pollença, Santiago de Compostela, Salamanca, Badajoz, Málaga y Albacete

Empresas privadas contratadas

Aviones terrestres ligeros y de carga en tierra (como los AT-802 Air Tractor y otros) operados y mantenidos por compañías privadas especializadas, como PEGASUS AVIACIÓN y otras, para el Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico y las Administraciones Autonómicas.

Flota Principal de Aviones en misión de Lucha Contra Incendios (LCI)

AVIÓN ANFIBIO TIPO 1 (FOCA).- Modelo: Canadair CL-215T / CL-415 (Botijo); Tipo: Anfibio Pesado; Capacidad de Descarga: ~6.000 litros; Recarga rápida en embalses, lagos o mar abierto en unos 12-15 segundos sin aterrizar; su velocidad de crucero está alrededor de los 300 km/h y su autonomía de vuelo en incendio es de cuatro horas.

AVIÓN ANFIBIO TIPO 2 (ALFA).- Modelo: Air Tractor AT-802FFire Boss; Tipo: Anfibio Medio / Carga en Tierra; Capacidad de Descarga: ~3.100 litros; Gran maniobrabilidad en valles estrechos (la versión permite amerizar para cargar agua). Su velocidad de crucero sin carga es de 250 km/h.

AVIÓN DE CARGA EN TIERRA (TANGO).- Los modelos más utilizados son Air Tractor AT-802 y Thrush Commander S2R-T660; Tipo: Carga en Tierra; Capacidad de Descarga: ~2.000 litros; Avión monomotor robusto operado desde pistas forestales no asfaltadas. A diferencia de los aviones anfibios, necesitan un aeródromo o aeropuerto para cargar agua. Su velocidad de crucero sin carga es de 250 km/h.

AERONAVE DE COORDINACIÓN TIPO 1 (ACO).- Modelo: España utiliza principalmente el avión Vulcanair (Partenavia) P-68 Observer y el Cessna 337 Skymaster; Tipo: Coordinación y Observación; Capacidad de Descarga: N/A (Sensores); Transmisión de imágenes térmicas y vídeo en tiempo real al puesto de mando.

Frente a la creciente intensidad de las olas de incendios forestales, la tecnología aeronáutica busca soluciones de gran escala. Una de las propuestas más destacadas es la adaptación del Airbus A400M, un avión de transporte táctico militar pesado, mediante un kit modular que lo transforma en un superavión apagafuegos capaz de descargar hasta 20.000 litros de agua o retardante en una sola pasada.

Este tipo de supercargueros no reemplaza a los hidroaviones anfibios tradicionales como el Canadair, el Fire Boss o los aviones de carga en tierra. Su función estratégica es actuar como escudo de contención masivo: volar a mayor altitud trazando franjas gigantescas de retardante para frenar el avance de frentes descontrolados antes de que alcancen zonas pobladas o de alto valor ecológico, abriendo paso al trabajo táctico de los medios ligeros y las brigadas terrestres.

Acerca de Jose Luis Martín Enríquez

Professional expert (SME) in the aeronautical sector, both Military and Civil environments, with more than 35 years of extensive international experience, specializing in flight operations, MRO aircraft certifying, design, customer services, training, quality, compliance, management and continuing airworthiness.

Experience:

Flight Operations:

o Extensive experience as a Flight Engineer • Flight Test Engineer • SAR Rescue Hoist Operator (offshore & land) • Senior in Flight Inspector (SAR offshore-12 years) • HEMS crew • EASA Part 21 certification flights • Senior Flight Test Instructor. (Airbus, VIP Air Unit Royal Family/Presidency of the Government, Maritime Rescue Agency, etc.).

Aircraft Certifying staff-MRO:

o Extensive technical global experience in fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. (Portugal, Belgium, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Holland, Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, Ajman, England, Scotland, Cameroon and Kuwait).

Instructor, examinator, training materials developer & E-Learning SME:

o Working in Airbus, Spanish Aviation Authority Training provider (SENASA), Official College of Pilots (COPAC), VIP Air Unit Royal Family/Presidency of the Government, Kuwait Police, Atlas Aerospace, Aerogulf and several European aeronautical schools; conducting training for flight engineers, flight test crews, aircraft certifying staff and pilots. (Spain, Abu-Dhabi, Dubai and Kuwait).

Project Management:

o Chief Engineer • CEO • Fleet Manager AW139 in Maritime Rescue • Project Manager of Air Service Customs Surveillance • Quality Manager-Postholder in CAMO plus MRO department • Deputy Technical Manager AgustaWestland • CAMO Manager-Postholder • Training Manager • Director of MRO. (Spain, Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, Belgium, Germany).

OEM Customer Services- Tech Rep:

o Technical Representative of Airbus. (Spain) • Technical Representative of AgustaWestland – LHD. (China).

Compliance Monitoring & Quality Assurance:

o Quality Postholder on both EASA Part 145 & UAE GCAA CAR 145/CAMO organizations • Quality Inspector on the VIP Air Unit Royal Family/Presidency of the Government • Lead Auditor on Airbus • Independent Senior Compliance Monitoring Inspector of the Maritime Search & Rescue Agency Aviation Service (during 12 years) • Independent Quality Auditor in several aviation organizations. (Spain, Dubai, Ukraine, Chile and Argentina).

Aircraft Acceptance (PPI):

o Performing in depth assessments to the whole airworthiness, including flight tests; ensuring the compliance and the airworthiness status. (France, South Africa, Spain, USA, England).

Independent Compliance Verification Engineer "CVE" of Flight Test (performances):

o Senior expert in several EASA Part 21J Aeronautical Design organizations; in regards of the Flight Test speciality, acting as independent checkers for design data (drawings, analyses, test reports) ensuring designs meet the initial airworthiness regulations and Certification Specifications-CS’s. (France and Spain).

Continuing Airworthiness Management:

o CAMO Postholder on an UAE GCAA Air Operator (Dubai) • CAMO Supervisor (Airbus H225 - Romania programme) • Airbus Airworthiness Representative & Instructor (Ukraine).

Education, complementary specialization training and licenses issued by the Authorities:

Aircraft Specialist Degree (4 years of theoretical training plus 2 years of OJT).

Flight Engineer licenses (civilian and military).

European Part 66 fixed-wing & rotary-wing EASA Certifying staff Licence (with more than 20 type ratings endorsed).

UAE GCAA CAR 66 fixed-wing & rotary-wing Certifying staff Licence (with multiple type ratings endorsed).

UK CAA Part 66 fixed-wing & rotary-wing Certifying staff Licence (with more than 20 type ratings endorsed).

Honour Diploma in Labour Relations (Complutense University of Madrid).

Complementary training courses attended worldwide, such as:

• Quality auditor
• Aircraft accidents investigator (x2)
• Train the trainers
• Flight test/MCF instructor
• Technical type instructor for AS332 & H135 helicopters models
• Aeronautical regulations (EASA, FAA & UAE GCAA Air-Law)
• Human factors
• AS332 on flight emergencies
• HUET evacuation of helicopter submerged in the water (x3)
• Transport of dangerous goods by air category 6
• Aviation Security (AVSEC)
• Aviation Safety (SMS), etc., etc.

Note: All the complementary training has been attended on Spain, Norway, Sweden, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Germany.

Languages:

English: Advanced technical knowledge and good speaking level.
Spanish: Mother tongue.
French: Understand what I read.
Italian: Understand what I read and heard.
Portuguese: Understand what I read and heard.

Certified flight hours:

+3050 hours as a Flight Engineer • Flight Test Engineer (FTE) • Medical Emergency Helicopter Crew (HEMS) • Rescue Hoist Operator (SAR) • Flight Monitoring Inspector of the Maritime Search & Rescue Agency (SAR offshore).

Awards and recognitions:

Medals of Aeronautical Merit and Civil Merit.

Airbus recognition for his first 1000 flight hours as a Flight Engineer crew on Airbus aircraft.

Letters of professional excellence, from the following organizations:

• Airbus (x3),
• Spanish Air Force (VVIP Air Unit),
• Air Chateau Air Operator in Dubai.