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Click Here 48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, February 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 4, 2004 An Erickson Air-Crane helicopter manned by Italian pilots hovers at the Medford airport during a recent exercise. Erickson trains pilots from all over the world to operate the aircraft, which are used to fight fires and lift heavy loads. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Pilot training gets noisy Erickson Air-Crane is providing flight lessons for Italian firefighters in giant S-64 helicopters By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune One woman called to complain the activity was upsetting her pregnant goat. Other people were bothered by the noise. But some have been just plain curious why the huge helicopter has been hovering recently like a giant orange dragonfly around the Medford airport and periodically buzzing over rural areas. "We’ve had calls from around the valley in regard to the noise, and people wondering what was going on," said Paul Mavrinac, chief pilot for Erickson Air-Crane based in Central Point. What’s going on is annual training for pilots and crew for the firm’s massive S-64 Air-Crane helicopters used for fighting wildfires and lifting heavy loads worldwide. Advertisement Two lead pilots working for Italy’s forest service are currently training, along with four support crew members. They started around the first of the year and will continue through May, Mavrinac said. An additional six Italian pilots will begin training in May, he added. The firm has sold four helitankers to the Italy forest service for $93 million. A special effort is being made to keep the training, which includes proficiency examinations and flight checks required by the Federal Aviation Administration, as unobtrusive and quiet as possible, given the size of the big birds, he said. "After the lady called me to say she had a pregnant goat we didn’t go over there," he said. "Another lady called to ask us not to go over her place." As a result, they are now avoiding those sites, he said. "We’ve had some people complaining," he said. "We will try very hard to minimize noise pollution impact upon people and livestock. " Much of the training is being done at the airport because it is ideal for training maneuvers mandated by the FAA, he said. Some of those being trained will be able to train others around the globe, he added. Since the firm built its first S-64 a dozen years ago, the powerful helitankers have been used to fight fires throughout the world, from Australia to Italy as well as throughout North America. The sophisticated helicopters carry 2,650-gallon tanks and on-board pumping systems that can refill the tank within 45 seconds. Each helicopter can deliver up to 30,000 gallons of foam, fire retardant or water per hour to a fire, providing it has access to a water or retardant source. An attached water cannon can shoot water up to 150 feet at a rate of 300 gallons per minute. Erickson has had a half dozen of the big birds contracted to Italy in recent years to help fight wildfires in that country. "They even have fires in the wintertime over there," said Mavrinac, who has flown in Italy on several occasions. In addition to fighting wildfires in Italy, the helitankers have been used to help victims of earthquakes by lifting fallen debris. This winter’s training is for the day when the firefighting is for real, an activity appreciated by those in need, said Mavrinac, an Erickson helicopter pilot for 25 years. "The residents of San Bernardino (California) certainly didn’t mind the roar of the Air-Crane when we were helping put those fires out," he said of the wildfires that struck Southern California last summer. Meanwhile, anyone concerned about the noise caused by the aircraft can call Erickson at 664-5544, Mavrinac said. "If somebody has a specific request for us to avoid a certain area, we’ll do it," he said. "We don’t know which livestock is foaling or whatever. We need people to let us know if there is a problem." Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times