SA_F_2015_04_

88 SA Flyer

FIRST JOBS - IAIN RENNIE & STEVEN EATWELL

Hours of boredom

mixed with moments

of excitement. This

is an appropriate

description of a

spotter pilot’s job.

F

IRE Spotting is one of the

more unusual first flying jobs.

Most of the flying is done in

very poor flying conditions

and the spotter pilot is

responsible for decision

making, controlling and

organising bombers in the area as well as

flying a light aircraft around a fire creating

large amounts of turbulence and smoke.

This means that a high level of maturity and

first-rate flying skills are a prerequisite. In

addition, spotter and bomber pilots, much

like front-line fighter pilots, do not have

much time off or a structured schedule.

If there are no fires you can sit for

days on end just waiting at the base for

something to happen and then, as the fire

rages and conditions deteriorate, be faced

with difficult decisions, made all the more

difficult by peoples’ property, homes and

livelihoods coming under threat.

Steven Eatwell, an experienced spotter

pilot from Kwa-Zulu Natal, gives an insider’s

scoop on the world of fire spotting.

WHO YOU ARE YOU, AND WHAT IS

YOUR BACKGROUND AND FLYING

HISTORY?

I started flying much later in life

than many embarking on a career as a

professional pilot. I worked in a number of

fields, including owning and operating an

outdoor adventure centre. I eventually did my PPL at the age of 30.

The next few years were spent juggling flying, working various jobs and my family life.

During this time I did a lot of free flying, ferrying aircraft, volunteering at a skydiving club and

towing gliders while I built up the time and funds to do my Comm. Initially I did a VFR only

Comm and then, a year later, my instrument rating.

By the time I had completed my Commercial Pilot’s Licence I had done a little over 400

hours. Now, a few years later, I am married with one child and just over 1,000 hours.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOB AS A SPOTTER PILOT?

A spotter pilot is basically an aerial fire co-ordinater, so I usually get to the fire before the

bombers and make contact with the guys fighting the fire on the ground. Then we come up

with a plan to fight the fire with the assets available.

As the bombers come on station, I co-ordinate them from the air and give them targets to

bomb. Before the bombers can run in you must warn the ground troops to clear the area as

the bomber will drop up to two tons of water.

The spotter is also constantly assessing the fire, and if he feels the fire is starting to get

out of control he will call in more support.

HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB AS A SPOTTER PILOT?

I landed my job at KZN FPA by chance. While working from Oribi Airfield in KZN, I was

told that the KZN FPA was looking for a spotter pilot. I applied and got the job.

I was fortunate in that I am more interested in bush flying than heading for the airlines

Pictures of the fires are taken from

the air for reports and data collection.

Fire

SPOTTING