News about tankers in 2013

I don't know about you, but I've been waiting for word on the status of the contracts for the P-2V tankers, the DC-10 tankers, and the next generation tankers. As I understand the existing contracts, e.g. for the P-2V tankers and the DC-10 tankers, expired at the end of 2012.

Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today reported in an Feb. 20 article:

Since the U.S. Forest Service has not awarded any new contracts for next-generation, legacy, or very large air tankers and all existing contracts expired December 31, 2012, this left none available as the wildland fire season began in the southwest United States.

In order to mitigate this self-inflicted crisis, the USFS just extended Neptune’s 2012 expired contract through March 5 and Minden’s contract through April 22, according to information from Jennifer Jones of the agency’s office in Boise. The contract for the DC-10 has also been extended (Bill's complete Feb. 20 article may be found here.)  

Michael Archer of Firebombers Publications included a link to an article from the Almogordo News reporting that Neptune Aviation are in the process of conducting training and proficiency flights in and near Almamogordo NM starting on Feb. 20 through Feb. 22.

I'll continue to be on the watch for more news of the availability of the P2-V, DC-10 and the next generation tankers and will post updates of any related news that I run across.