Even though it feels a little like winter today, Team BLM are getting ready for fire season. Here’s what you will be seeing over the next couple of weeks.
On Friday, May 15 there will be a C-130 in from Channel Islands about 1000. It will park on one of the concrete pads at center ramp. Don’t know if he’s in for standby pre-positioning or will be moving on.
On Monday, May 18, Captain Mike “Graybeard” Kidwell is bringing his band of cutthroat BLM tanker base pirates up to full strength for the season. Already seeing retardant tankers filling the treasure chests up. It will be good to see our friends again, argh.
COVID is throwing a wrench in their facility use with social distancing and all. To help with distancing, BLM is working on dropping a couple modular buildings in their parking area for crew dispersion. Not sure when these will be here, but you may notice a different foot print on climb out from RWY 8.
Fire season officially begins on Monday, June 1. Captain Graybeard is running his fire intelligence traplines and thinks we might see contract aircraft on the ground around Memorial Day. It’s setting up to be an aggressive fire season, or so it looks.
Fixing to get a bit busier here as summer ramps up. As that other famous seafaring buccaneer Captain Jack Aubry reminded his crew: “So it’s every hand to his rope or gun, quick’s the word and sharp’s the action.” Time for us modern-day privateer pilots to get the eyeballs caged and head in the game as our traffic pattern heats up!
v/r
Mike Scott
Reno-Stead Airport (RTS)
Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority
775.328.6573