Royal Arcerion Fire Service: Difference between revisions
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==== Aerial Services Division ==== | ==== Aerial Services Division ==== | ||
The Aerial Services division provides the Royal Arcerion Fire Services with rotary-wing, fixed-wing, unmanned aerial system, and technical aviation support for firefighting and rescue operations. Aerial Services Teams are organized into 'Squadrons,' and are often co-located at [[Arcer Air Force]] (AAF) bases. Due to the complex nature of these types of missions, pilots are full-time pilots holding the rank of Lieutenant or Captain, and go through the Arcer Air Force pilot training cycle before returning to the Fire Service for service in the Aerial Services Division in a squadron. The Aerial Services division works closely with Fire Teams and Rescue Teams due to the size of Arcerion and the need to quickly deploy teams across governorates. It commonly will use helicopters to insert and extract Fire Teams fighting brushfires or wildfires in the Arcer Heartland, or use its larger fixed wing aircraft to deploy Smokejumpers or Rescue Specialists to areas where helicopters cannot access effectively due to limited range. As well, the Aerial Services Division uses unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and light fixed-wing aircraft to provide remote command-and-control of Fire Teams during wildfire season, as well as situational awareness for teams on the ground about wind direction, fire path, and other factors that may affect the employment of Fire Teams. | The Aerial Services division provides the Royal Arcerion Fire Services with rotary-wing, fixed-wing, unmanned aerial system, and technical aviation support for firefighting and rescue operations. Aerial Services Teams are organized into 'Squadrons,' and are often co-located at [[Arcer Air Force]] (AAF) bases. Due to the complex nature of these types of missions, pilots are full-time pilots holding the rank of Lieutenant or Captain, and go through the Arcer Air Force pilot training cycle before returning to the Fire Service for service in the Aerial Services Division in a squadron. The Aerial Services division works closely with Fire Teams and Rescue Teams due to the size of Arcerion and the need to quickly deploy teams across governorates. It commonly will use helicopters to insert and extract Fire Teams fighting brushfires or wildfires in the Arcer Heartland, or use its larger fixed wing aircraft to deploy Smokejumpers or Rescue Specialists to areas where helicopters cannot access effectively due to limited range. As well, the Aerial Services Division uses unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and light fixed-wing aircraft to provide remote command-and-control of Fire Teams during wildfire season, as well as situational awareness for teams on the ground about wind direction, fire path, and other factors that may affect the employment of Fire Teams. | ||
[[File:SAR plane.jpg|thumb|200x200px|A C-11SR operated by RAFS 12 Squadron (Search and Rescue) conducts a reconnaissance flight over the Malentine Sea in response to an emergency distress beacon activation, May 2014. ]] | |||
The Aerial Services division currently spans all five governorates, and has two dedicated squadrons for Howland Governorate, due to the difficulties of operating in inclement weather. Helicopter and plane squadrons generally have between 12-16 air frames, and depending on maintenance generally 2/3rds of these are operational and serviceable. | The Aerial Services division currently spans all five governorates, and has two dedicated squadrons for Howland Governorate, due to the difficulties of operating in inclement weather. Helicopter and plane squadrons generally have between 12-16 air frames, and depending on maintenance generally 2/3rds of these are operational and serviceable. | ||
=== Support and Services Branch === | === Support and Services Branch === | ||
The Support and Services Branch provides all of the background support to enable the day-to-day functioning of the RAFS, and the generation of new firefighters for the Operations division. The Training and Research Division's primary mandate is the intake and education of new firefighters every year to sustain the manning levels of the entire Fire Service. The primary source of these recruits comes from Frederickson Collegiate (formerly the Royal Arcerion Firefighting Institute), named for the revolutionary RAFS Commissioner John Francis Frederickson who revolutionized the Fire Service in the 1960s and 1970s. Secondary to this is the additional education portion of the Division. It is aimed to provide firefighters with additional training on complex operations, such as HAZMAT operations or Maritime Search and Rescue. This is organized under the Special Fire School of Arcerion, which also annually hosts courses for international candidates. | The Support and Services Branch provides all of the background support to enable the day-to-day functioning of the RAFS, and the generation of new firefighters for the Operations division. The Training and Research Division's primary mandate is the intake and education of new firefighters every year to sustain the manning levels of the entire Fire Service. The primary source of these recruits comes from Frederickson Collegiate (formerly the Royal Arcerion Firefighting Institute), named for the revolutionary RAFS Commissioner John Francis Frederickson who revolutionized the Fire Service in the 1960s and 1970s. Secondary to this is the additional education portion of the Division. It is aimed to provide firefighters with additional training on complex operations, such as HAZMAT operations or Maritime Search and Rescue. This is organized under the Special Fire School of Arcerion, which also annually hosts courses for international candidates. | ||