In late September BAe-146, T-40 (Neptune Aviation and Tronos) received interim approval from the Interagency Air Tanker Board. A few days later, T-40 was on her way to Texas. T-40 is a jet powered aircraft that can carry 3,000 gallons of retardant.
On January 2, The Missoulian reported that the US Forest Service has contracted for T-40 for one year. You may recall that the USFS will contract for turbine (jet) tankers in 2012.
There is one more BAe-146 tanker ready for testing this month, this one owned and operated by Minden Air. Further, Minden has a second BAe-146 that they will convert to a tanker after the first one is done. Bill Gabbert of wildfire today reports on Minden's BAe-146 tankers as well as the contract for T-40 here. Bill also reports that one of Minden's two P-2V tankers will go on contract in February with their second tanker going on contract in April.
MInden Air has a webpage devoted to their BAe-146.
CAL FIRE (CDF) S2T Tanker 71 working Sawtooth Complex Fire (2006)
Sawtooth Complex Fire (Sept. 2006), San Bernardino County CA. Photo Credit: U.S. Forest Service
No comments:
Post a Comment