USFS flight training planned near Gray Butte

The Regional Aviation Group of the US Forest Service is planning to conduct a flight operations training exercise north of Gray Butte on the Crooked River National Grassland this Thursday, with the possibility of more flights on Friday.

The purpose of the training is to prepare aerial supervisors, pilots and ground personnel for the coming fire season.

Grassland visitors may see multiple helicopters and aircraft making occasional low passes in the vicinity between 9 am and 3 pm, Thursday. Helicopters may also land west of the Pine Ridge corrals, and at a gravel pit near Cyrus Hill pond about two miles west.

Helicopters will be carrying external loads suspended beneath the aircraft between points on the ground for the purpose of training fire and law enforcement personnel in the preparation and handling of aerially delivered cargo.

Aerial supervisors from state and federal agencies – firefighters that manage airspace over wildfires and other incidents, providing direction to tactical aircraft and assistance to firefighters on the ground – will participate in the exercise, as well as lead plane, smokejumper and helicopter inspector pilots, ground firefighters and law enforcement personnel.

For more information, contact Public Affairs Officer Patrick Lair at (541) 416-6647 or plair@fs.fed.us