The cooperator plans guide the work of forestry professionals and directly support the health, productivity, and resilience of amerproject funding will assist with federally mandated suppression…

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R8-Southern Region awarded $1,061,177 to the Georgia Forestry Commission on July 6, 2026, under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) for federally mandated suppression aircraft maintenance and repairs in Georgia through July 5, 2031.

The Commission operates 13 Cessna 182S fixed-wing patrol aircraft, two Thrush 510G Switchback air tankers, and Type 2 and Type 3 helicopters for wildland fire detection and suppression support. Funding supports routine maintenance and repairs of the fixed-wing fleet performed by the Commission's aircraft mechanic, with technically complex or FAA-specific repairs outsourced to private shops. The award includes subscription costs for aviation management software that tracks aircraft scheduling, pilot scheduling, maintenance records, and aircraft inventory and cost monitoring. The funding also supports wildland fire response and firefighter safety by providing FFT2-qualified or above frontline firefighters with NFPA 1977-compliant wildland fire personal protective equipment.

The Commission employs 11 full-time pilots, several temporary and seasonal pilots, and one aircraft mechanic. Work is performed in Georgia.

The cooperator plans guide the work of forestry professionals and directly support the health, productivity, and resilience of amerproject funding will assist with federally mandated suppression aircraft maintenance and repairs in state of georgia. The cooperator operates both fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft to detect and provide suppression support on wildland fires. The cooperator has 13 fixed-wing patrol planes (cessna 182S) that fly during periods when wildfire is probable. In addition to our patrol aircraft, cooperator utilizes two thrush 510G switchback single engine air tankers to provide rapid suppression response. Cooperator operates both a type 2 and type 3 helicopter for suppression as well. The cooperator employs 11FULL-time pilots, several temporary/seasonal pilots, and one aircraft mechanic who performs most of the routine maintenance and repairs the fixed-wing aircraft fleet. Some repairs must be outsourced to a private shop because of technical complexity or federal aviation administration specific requirements. Project funding will be used to continue subscription to aviation software which will allow air operations chief and aviation mechanic to manage aircraft scheduling, pilot scheduling, maintenance tracking, and monitor aircraft inventory and cost. Additionally, project funding will support wildland fire response and firefighter safety by providing frontline firefighters who are FFT2 qualified or above with adequate nfpa 1977 wildland fire personal protective equipment. Fproject funding will assist with federally mandated suppression aircraft maintenance and repairs. The cooperator operates both fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft to detect and provide suppression support on wildland fires. The cooperator has 13 fixed-wing patrol planes (cessna 182S) that fly during periods when wildfire is probable. In addition to our patrol aircraft, cooperator utilizes two thrush 510G switchback single engine air tankers to provide rapid