Sacramento, CA — CAL FIRE’s Aviation Program reaches a milestone as it conducts night operations training this week for crewmembers from three helitack bases—Kneeland and Bieber Helitack from Northern California, and San Diego Helitack from Southern California.

This training officially expands night firefighting capabilities to all 11 CAL FIRE Helitack crews statewide. Standardizing night operations across every base ensures that crews can seamlessly integrate during nighttime assignments anywhere in the state.

Context & Milestones

  • 2020: CAL FIRE introduced the CAL FIRE HAWK (S-70i) into its aerial fleet, laying the groundwork for advanced night-vision operations.
  • 2025: Virtual Reality Air Rescue Hoist Simulator introduced at the CAL FIRE Aviation Training Center (CATC). By year’s end, six simulators were operational: OV-10, S2T Airtanker, C130H Airtanker, S70i Helicopter, S70i Helicopter (NVG compatible), Hoist Air Rescue.
  • May 2026: CAL FIRE achieved two major milestones—the addition of its 11th Helitack base, thereby completing a full Helitack transition from the UH-1H Huey to the CAL FIRE HAWK.
  • November 2026: Night operations capability achieved across all 11 bases.

Importance of Night Operations Training

Nighttime operations are demanding and require advanced training that begins with classroom instruction on night vision, its limitations and crew coordination, followed by flight simulator exercises and nighttime flight training. While simulator hours reduce equipment wear and reduce operational risk, simulated environments cannot fully replicate the sensory inputs, spatial cues, and lighting of live nocturnal flight.

Rows of firefighters in a classroom wearing helmets with 3D glasses, watching a Cal Fire presentation on a screen

During night exercises, crews gain experience using Night Vision Goggles (NVG) for water drops and low-light navigation while building the coordination needed to operate safely and effectively after dark.

Community and Safety Notice

All training flights are conducted in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and CAL FIRE safety protocols.

Residents in and around the McClellan and San Diego training areas can expect helicopter activity during evening hours, concluding by 11:00 PM, Wednesday, November 4 – Friday, November 6. Training areas near McClellan include Mammoth Bar and Folsom Lake along with regional airports including Placerville, Georgetown, Grass Valley, and Rio Vista. 

Areas in and around Ramona Airport in Southern California, including San Vicente, El Capitan, Henshaw, and Sutherland Reservoirs will experience helicopter activity.

We prioritize safety and are committed to minimizing local disruptions. CAL FIRE appreciates the community’s support as we prepare our Helitack crews for night operations.