MAFFS Mission Report

July 10th, 2008

Today’s Topic: The view from the top of the world.

McClellan Airfield is flat. This is no real surprise in that; how else would you expect what is basically an airport to be, given that the purpose is to house and launch airplanes? Airplanes like flat, at least when they are not flying.

Other than some very large old hangers remaining from the days when the Air Force flew F-111s and A-10 Warthogs from this location, the area is generally flat as far as you can see on this somewhat smoky day. This, after all, is smack dab in the middle of the California central valley.

The one obvious exception to this flatness is an old, nondescript airport control tower sticking up between the tarmac and the runway/taxi area. From the standpoint of modern architectural design, this building is, well, just plain. But when this old military airbase is buzzing with the eight lumbering MAFFS-equipped C-130 aircraft, along with private planes practicing touch-and-go landings and CAL FIRE firefighting aircraft coming and going, the venerable old tower has once again sprung into action.

Air traffic control at “ McClellan Tower” is currently carefully being coordinated by Bill Grava, who is usually in a much less conspicuous setting at Northern California TRACON—which stands for Terminal Radar Approach Coordination. Single-handedly, Grava is juggling numerous airborne aircraft as deftly as a surgeon controlling an operating room.

In the first few days of this MAFFS activation, an “UNICOM” air traffic control system was is place, which is common in airports with lighter, non-commercial activity. With this system, there is no human-type person talking to the pilots. An open radio channel allows the pilots to basically talk to themselves, where they provide their location, direction and intentions.

A trip up the tower requires walking up what feels like a thousand, quad-burning steps (no elevator in this old tower). Once in the 100% glass enclosed “penthouse,” the view, once you catch you breath and your heart slows down, looking out is very dramatic. Grava can view ground and aerial activities, at least as much as the smoke-filled sky allows.

Air traffic controllers apparently speak some form of secret language at a speed that would make the most seasoned auctioneer pale in comparison. It is not unusual to hear something like:

“MAFFS3clearforrunway34takeoffandturnnorthwestwindscalmaltimeter2993cessnacharliezulumikeonapproachat340squawk4521contactdeparture.”

Huh?!?

Whatever it is Grava said to the pilot was apparently heard because the pilot repeated it back exactly and in the same unknown language.

In any regard, having expert air traffic control is clearly one more piece of the massive mobilization of firefighting resources in the current statewide effort.

Grava closed with, “We’re here until the MAFFS are gone.”