Pilot was flying within the rules: fire officials
A retired helicopter pilot of 23 years says there was no excuse for a low-level pass directly over the Dome subdivision in Dawson City by a firefighting bomber last Sunday.
A retired helicopter pilot of 23 years says there was no excuse for a low-level pass directly over the Dome subdivision in Dawson City by a firefighting bomber last Sunday.
Karl Scholz said in an interview this week that as a pilot who understands the air regulations, he knows a firefighting aircraft must follow the standard rules for all aircraft when not working inside the airspace of a restricted fire zone.
The four-engine Electra airtanker passed right over the subdivision at an altitude of approximately 500 feet, Scholz estimates.
He said regulations say aircraft must maintain a vertical distance of 1,000 feet above the ground, along with a 2,000-foot horizontal buffer between buildings on the ground.
“The aircraft was 500 feet over my head and there was no horizontal separation,” he told the Star.
“So he was below the limit vertically and there was no horizontal separation.”
There was no fire anywhere near the Dome.
There was also no reason why the bomber had to fly so low and directly over the subdivision, said Scholz.
He has regularly worked fighting fires during his career as a chopper pilot.
Scholz described the low-level pass as cowboying or Hollywooding.
The fact of the matter, he said, is that it was a case of endangering the public.
Scholz said he’s contacted Yukon Wildland Fire Management about his concern.
He has also has filed a complaint with the federal Transport Canada agency which is responsible for enforcing air regulations.
The flight path and the whereabouts of airtanker traffic are recorded, Scholz said.
In an emailed response from Wildland Fire Management, Scholz was assured all flight regulations were followed and there was no public safety issue.
Public safety and the safety of firefighting staff is paramount, he was told.
Wildland fire information officer George Maratos said fire management has looked into Scholz’s complaint and deemed the pilot did indeed fly directly over the Dome sudivision below 1,000 feet.
Fire management also determined the pilot was flying within regulations, as he was inside a designated fire zone, he said.
Maratos said the Dawson district has been a hotspot for fires all season. Last Sunday, there was a fire near Fortymile, one near the Dawson airport and another near Henderson Corner.
“We have had 32 fires in the Dawson district this year with lots of aircraft flying in that area, and this is the only complaint we have received,” he said.
Comments (8)
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Matt on Jun 27, 2015 at 3:42 pm
Maybe it was hotdogging, but to stretch it to "endangering the public" is absolute Bu**sh**. Retired helicopter pilot needs to realize that after retirement he has put on some weight and now his underwear is way too tight causing him to be testy and "old" . What does he think a 200 nm/hour bomber is going to do? Buzz jobs are fun for all, including the pilot.....so note to Karl..STFU.
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Miles Miller on Jun 27, 2015 at 3:14 pm
If the fires were near Fortymile, the Dawson airport and near Henderson Corner, isn't the Dome area to the north and a little out of the way for all these areas? Were there other fires closer to the Dome?
If Karl was correct, why not say fire zones involve fairly large areas, and although low level flights are permissible, the Yukon Wildland Fire Management will discourage such activity over sub-divisions.
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Anon on Jun 26, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Fly whatever level you have to, that fire was in close proximity to Henderson Corner and peoples houses, you should be thankful you still have a house give the conditions in Dawson this past week.
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BnR on Jun 26, 2015 at 6:06 pm
I could see getting irked (eventually) if it was a daily occurrence, but once???
I like seeing planes fly over close. I miss the old Conair Grumman Fire Cats, nothing like a radial.
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ProScience Greenie on Jun 26, 2015 at 5:36 pm
This is the Karl Scholz that is a seasoned Yukon chopper pilot including working many wild fires who'd I'd trust with my life anytime on the ground or in the air without hesitation. If he says the plane was flying too low for no good reason then it would be a good idea to follow that up.
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Miles Miller on Jun 26, 2015 at 4:45 pm
Inside a fire zone? I say let's hear from Transport Canada.
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We should be thanking them, not reprimanding on Jun 26, 2015 at 4:30 pm
How about we thank them for risking themselves to try to save the city from fires?! I don't imagine that fire fighting is considered low risk and it takes a special type of person not only to do that, but also to fly a plane at low heights to put out fires from the air.
Anyways....next....
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Salar on Jun 26, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Is this the Karl Scholtz who was head of the Chamber of Mines for a while?.......still sounding off?....if it isn't the same guy they must be kin because they do say the damndest things.