Air Tankers for the Fire Season

[RockyMnt1]

It is getting really, really dry in Colorado along the front range again. The mountins have feet of snow, but not here.

Can anyone (maybe Avbug) provide insight into the status of the air tanker fleet this year? Any changes to Forest service policies/procedures relating to air tanker priorities/availablity? Looks like they will be needed this year....

SEATs have already been used around here (Co) and I understand NM and AZ are even worse firewise....

Thanks

 

[Lostdog65]

www.airtanker.com

Sign up for the message board or better yet...become a member of AAP (Associate Airtanker Pilots).

Or you can alway go to www.fs.fed.us and do a search for the airtankers on contract.

Eric

 

[ePilot22]

The next generation FIRE BOMBER?





eP.

 

[Lostdog65]

Yeah epilot...that's what they say...that and a DC-10 and a 737. I'll believe it when I see it. Supposed a Dash-8 has been modified with a strap on tank that will be certified by the FAA. Minden Air is modifying a BAE146 with an external tank. Unless someone designs, builds, tests and FAA certifies a dedicated "air tanker" ala P-3, DC 6 & 7, P2V, don't expect any changes soon. And don't ask the gov't for R&D money unless you plan on building a bomb that can sniff out Al Queda "freedom fighters" and blow them up in their caves!

Eric

 

[DC4boy]

The U.S. Forrest Service has unofficially made the statement that they will contract 20 large airtankers for the 2006 fire season.

Neptune aviation will have, tentatively, 10 Lockheed P-2's

Aero Union will have 8, possibly 9, Lockheed P-3's

Minden Air will operate 2 P-2's, and possibly one BAE 146.

Evergreen has two "tanked" B-747's, and has a third avalible. Sounds like they will be tested and operable this season.

SEAT contract's have reportedly been reduced. Maybe Avbug can shed some insight.

40-80 light, medium, and heavy helicopters.

Dyncorp will operate 24 S-2T's and 13 OV-10's for the CDF this season.

Rumor also has it that the USFS has allocated an unknown number of P-3's that they themselves will contract out. All rumor so far.......

 

[Ill Mitch]

Too bad this idea died out.
http://www.firehogs.com/

 

[DC4boy]

It's a good thing that idea died out. Trust me........

Would have been fun though

 

[Ill Mitch]

It's a good thing that idea died out. Trust me........

Would have been fun though

Was it the politics or it just wouldn't have been that effective as a tanker?

 

[avbug]

DC4 hit the numbers...approx 50 SEATS this year. No less aircraft, but the national strategy has changed a little. Last year the ATF or Aerial Task Force concept was tried, in which several SEATS, a lead or ASM, and a helicopter or two are bundled as a module, and ordered as a single resource. The concept worked very well, according to DOI/BLM.

SEAT useage has been very localized, with a district contracting the airplane, and there it stayed. Unlike a large tanker, which has been classed as a national resource, the SEATS until this year were not, and weren't used as national resources. That meant the SEAT, excepting CWN ships, didn't move much. This year, most contracts weren't renewed, new ones weren't issued, and aircraft will either be bundled into ATF units, or CWN. Some contracts remain, but the word is that they won't be renewed.

Another turn, not unexpected, is that most positions out there are calling for AT-802's, and the lower gallon aircraft are being phased out. This on the heels of some operators converting most of their aircraft to turbine equipment...lots invested, and they're being squeezed out.

How much work will be available this year is a little hard to predict. This both because the season is always a question mark, but also because of the changes in the strategy of useage.

Phoenix just saw the first precip in nearly 150 days. Fuels up through the thousand hour range are severely hurting. Good possibilities.

Off to Safford!