Tankers going on contract soon for 2012 U.S. fire season

PR Web is reporting that Neptune Aviation has moved up their maintenance schedule and pilot recurrency training to have their tankers ready earlier than in previous years for the upcoming 2012 fire season. Recall that Neptune has nine P-2V's and a BAe-146. The BAe-146 may still be undergoing maintenance at Tronos. The first tanker will be ready on or about February 26. You will want to read the PR Web article. In addition, Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today reported on this yesterday. Bill reports that Minden is going to have a tanker ready to go on contract early this season.

I just found the 2012 Federal Contract Air Tanker List from the National Interagency Coordination Center's (NICC) Aviation Page. I just downloaded my copy a pdf file from this link on the NICC aviation page. According to the list that I just downloaded (revised 1/23/12), Minden's tanker 55 goes on contract on Feb. 15 with Neptune's tanker 45 following on Feb. 26. The last Neptune P-2 goes on contract May 25. There is not date specified on this last for when Neptune's Bae-146 (T-40) goes on contract, with a TBD being listed.