Fires: Why Can’t Agricultural Planes be Part of the Solution in Argentina? This is the question that should be asked of state and federal fire agencies, given that while fires quickly become unmanageable in the region, and the environmental and economic damage increases, they have not responded to the Argentinian body FEARCA, which has repeatedly offered the collaboration of agricultural aircraft for fire suppression.
Agricultural operators in Argentina distributed throughout the country have the necessary infrastructure, access to water, and fuel that could also serve as operational aerial firefighting centers.
The Argentine Federation of Agricultural Chambers (Fearca) stated in a recent press release that dozens of agricultural aircraft were ready and waiting in different parts of the country to join the aerial firefighting fleet while thousands of acres burned in Córdoba, Chaco, Santa Fe, Corrientes and Entre Ríos in Argentina. Although some agricultural airplanes differ from aerial firefighting aircraft and do not have the benefits of large fire gates to drop water, they can still carry out a joint effort in conjunction with local authorities and dedicated aerial firefighting operations to add to the overall capabilities of aerial firefighting efforts in a joint fight to end fire outbreaks quicker that are occurring every day in various regions of Argentina. President of the Chamber of Agro-air Companies of Córdoba, Francisco Casajús, stated: “We do not have specifically what the authorities require of firefighting aircraft, but we would have the planes that could still participate in the fight, we could participate under their direction and make ourselves available”. Casajus added: “We are not looking to earn money with this, what we do is make our work tool available”. The Vice President of FEARCA, Diego Martínez stated: “We are committed to collaborating but we have no response from the authorities.” Two
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years ago, the Chamber of Aero Applicators of Córdoba submitted a proposal to the provincial government where they offered their collaboration with the basic requirements that are required, the chamber never received a response from the government. Today, the province is still in the grip of fires that threaten lives and property, yet, agricultural aircraft remain on the ground. “We are sad to know that we have aircraft in our hangars and we can contribute in the face of this serious situation,” said Martínez. Also stating “if the agreement had been signed in 2018, today there would be more than 15-20 aircraft available.” “We regret the lost opportunity to collaborate with our local authorities in these daunting circumstances”, emphasized Martínez, who highlighted: “with predictability and coordination, we could be available in the future to contribute in the control of these unfortunate situations, in a better way, always under the direction and organization of the competent authorities.” Agricultural operators in Argentina distributed throughout the country (representing more than 200 operating bases) have the necessary infrastructure, access to water, and fuel that could also serve as operational aerial firefighting centers.
