Stu Sprung’s Post

As my time as Chief of Flight Operations for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) concludes at the end of next week, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the incredible team behind our air program—truly the industry gold standard. It’s been an honor to serve this exceptional organization. While overseeing the unique pilot/flight engineer and aircraft flight operations of our large, mixed agency/contract fleet in the National Airspace—averaging 75 fixed and rotor-wing aircraft—and working with our government and private industry partners to protect California’s 100 million acres and 40 million residents during the most destructive fire seasons on record (2020 and 2021), I’m also proud of the operational advancements we achieved together: - Launching & managing our Initial Attack (IA) contract aircraft program, boosting our in-service fleet by 50% and introducing Type 1 Night/NVG helitanker and night helicopter supervision (HLCO) capabilities. - Leading and producing the Interagency Low Drop Safety Campaign, resulting in CAL FIRE’s most-viewed online video (over 1M views). - Helping establish our aerial intel (IAA) program and laying the groundwork for our future ASM program. - Initiating the evolution our aviation safety management (SMS) program and reporting system. - Recruiting top-tier manager/pilots & flight engineers from the military and industry, who played key roles in advancing our C-130, S-70i Day/Night, and Aviation Safety programs. - Empowering industry innovation through collaboration, such as contributing to the operational effectiveness of the 747 Global Supertanker VLAT during its time in service. - Conceptualizing and never giving up on our C-130 Large Airtanker (LAT) program, which required us two Acts of Congress to make a reality. As the chief pilot and agency pilot/flight engineer inspector I always felt it was important to be trained to the same standard as our pilots, and as such maintained flight qualifications in the OV-10 Bronco, C-130H Hercules, and UH-1H Huey—the aircraft that first inspired me to become a pilot. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of the nearly 700 personnel who make up our air program, our 12,000 strong department, my friends, and my little family of four. I’d like to take a moment to remember our active aerial fire family members who passed too soon during my time here: Cory Iverson, Stacy Hamilton, Ian McBeth, Mike Fournier, Danny Johnson, Ken Lancaster, Derek Weedon, Josh Bischof, Tim Rodriguez, Tony Sousa, Tom Smith, & Gabe Kulp. Far too many in less than a decade…it was an honor to serve with them. Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond…regroup…and then build on these successes and embrace the next adventure—whatever it may be!