GFMC MEETINGS CALENDAR 2022
Aerial Fire Fighting North America 2022
21-23 March 2022, San Diego, California, U.S.A.
AFF North America 2022 will take place in San Diego for the first time. The new location will provide excellent opportunities for the global aerial firefighting community to meet, network and discuss the latest challenges faced by the industry post-pandemic. Taking place over three days, Aerial Firefighting North America 2022 will feature a dedicated conference, exhibition, private workshops and static display.
The 2022 conference will, as ever, strive to address the strategies, training, technologies and agreements necessary to increase operational capability in the efficient deployment of both helicopter, fixed wing and unmanned aerial firefighting aircraft of all types. We are delighted to announce that the Keynote Address will be delivered by the Director of CAL FIRE.
- Conference program (PDF, 0.3 MB)
- Chairman’s report (PDF, 0.3 MB)
The Walt Darran International AFF Award Nominations Are Now Open
The Walt Darran International Aerial Firefighting Awards are presented annually to recognise a significant contribution by an individual or organisation to aerial firefighting. The nomination process is now open!
The Awards were inaugurated in honour of the late Walt Darran, who was a pioneer and advocate for advances in aerial firefighting. Being a highly experienced S2-T airtanker pilot and former highly decorated US Navy aviator from California, USA, Walt was a constant and passionate advocate for safety and improvement in the international aerial firefighting community. This year nominations were accepted in two categories: Contribution to Aerial Firefighting Safety and Industry Innovation & Advancement.
Nominations are now open. The winners will be announced at the Aerial Firefighting North America Conference Dinner on 22nd March 2022 in San Diego, California, USA.
Visual impressions of the conference and the Walt Darran Award Ceremony
Photos: Courtesy Riccardo Filippi (IFAWG)
Chairman’s Introduction – Rear Admiral Terry Loughran, CB FRAeS, Royal Navy, UK.
AFFNA22 audience
AFFNA22 exhibition
AFFNA22 exhibition
Mike Lynn of Conair Aerial Firefighting was awarded the Walt Darren Award 2022. The award was presented by Mr. Darren’s son and family who were in attendance for the event.
Reports of previous AFF conferences
Please see the posts of the previous International Aerial Firefighting Conferences, including the conference reports:
- Greece (21-22 October 2008)
- Anaheim, California (19-20 February 2009)
- Rome, Italy (5-6 November 2009)
- Vancouver, Canada (16-17 March 2010)
- Malaga, Spain (2-3 December 2010)
- Washington, D.C., U.S.A. (25-26 May 2011)
- Melbourne, Australia (25 August 2011)
- Sacramento, USA (25-26 January 2012)
- Aix-en-Provence, France (10-11 April 2013)
- Sacramento, USA (19-20 March 2014)
- Zadar, Croatia (29-30 April 2015)
- Sacramento, USA (22-23 March 2016)
- Nimes, France (17-18 October 2017)
- Nimes, France (19-20 March 2019)
- Sacramento, USA (4-5 March 2020)
- Tallinn, Estonia (12-13 October 2021)
