2020 wildfire season: Tankers, SEATs and Helicopters on Federal Contract

One of my go to places to find out about Federal firefighting aviation contracts is Bill Gabbert's Fire Aviation where he writes extensively about contracting, here is a link to articles that Bill has tagged as about contracting. I check his Fire Aviation website a few times a week. While media outlets may cover local to them Federal firefighting aviation contracts, and various publications may focus on contracts affecting the type of aircraft they write about, Bill offers one stop shopping, so to speak. 

As I write a blog on aerial wildland firefighting, I want to spend a little time highlighting some of Bill's posts on the status of federal contracts for  air tankers, single-engine airtankers (SEATs) and helicopters. Bill kudos to you for the great job you do with following the contracts. 

Air Tankers

Exclusive Use Contracts: I refer you to Bill's May 2nd post on Fire Aviation. The US Forest Service has thirteen air tankers on Exclusive Use Contracts with a mandatory availability period (MAP) of 160 days. Start dates range from March 12 to May 19.

• 2 DC-10 tankers (10 Tanker)
• 1 C130Q (Coulson)
• 2 MD-87 tankers (Aero Air)
• 4 RJ85 tankers (Aero Flite)
• 4 BAe tankers (Neptune Aviation)

Call When Needed Activations: You will want to read Bill's July 2nd article on call when needed (CWN) activations. There are eleven tankers under CWN contract with a 90 day mandatory availability period of 90 days with start dates ranging from the end of May through the middle of June.

• 1 DC-10 tanker (10 Tanker)
• 4 MD-87 tankers (Aero Air)
• 1 Boeing 737 tanker (Coulson)
• 5 BAe-146 tankers (Neptune Aviation)

Adding the eleven tankers on exclusive use contract to the thirteen tankers on CWN contract and you get 24 air tankers that will be available for much of the wildfire season. 

Single-Engine Air Tankers (SEATs): According to Bill's April 13th article on Fire Aviation there will be thirty-four SEATs on contract with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Helicopters: Bill has written several articles in the last couple of months about the status of helicopter contracts. I refer you to what I think is the latest article that he wrote on May 30th where he reported on thirty-six helicopters on contract with the US Forest Service. Specifically, there are twenty-four type 1 helicopters and twelve type 2 helicopters on 90 day exclusive use contract with the US Forest Service. I will leave you to read Bill's article for a table where he lists the thirty-six helicopters on contract.

Bill Gabbert reports in a March 26th article (scroll down for the discussion) that the number of large air tankers on contract since 2013 has ranged from a low of 13 to a high of 21.  I admit to not knowing the history of the SEAT and helicopter contracts at the present time.

I am thankful for these aerial resources on contract to help the firefighters on the ground. Stay safe and thanks to the pilots, and support staff.