CAL FIRE Updates Legacy Air Operations Software

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has replaced the aviation tracking platform to support its massive aerial firefighting missions.

Known as the CAL FIRE Aviation Tracking and Information System (CATIS), the scalable, cloud-based platform from TracPlus replaces the department's legacy Aviation Information Management System. The wildfire-prone state has the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the U.S.

In a press release, the company said its FireFlyte software had been tapped to replace the aging flight management software. California’s aerial operations are a critical part of the state’s wildland firefighting strategy, with more than 60 winged aircraft and rotorcraft in its fleet.

“Built on TracPlus' FireFlyte platform, CATIS transforms how they capture and utilize critical operational data — from real-time aircraft positioning to comprehensive mission reporting — giving their teams the insights needed to deploy resources more effectively during emergency responses," Todd O'Hara, chief marketing and product officer at TracPlus, said in the press release.

According to the company, the solution has already been adopted by firefighting agencies in Australia and New Zealand.

The state has been making significant investments in this space in recent weeks ahead of California’s annual “wildfire season.” In April, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the addition of a second C-130 Hercules (C-130H) with fire suppression capabilities to the state’s fleet.

The first C-130H was a critical component to firefighting operations during the recent fires in Los Angeles and has flown some 90 missions since it was added to the fleet, deploying more than 253,702 gallons of retardant, according to a recent press release from the Governor’s Office.