Casper Mountain Fire 2012
When the RAND Corporation began research for the Forest Service’s future requirements for firefighting aircraft there were two types of aircraft not included in the study – Very Large Air Tankers [VLATS] and Single Engine Air Tankers [SEATs]
With the smallest total number of firefighting aircraft under contract to the Forest Service in decades there is a need for VLATs. 10 Tanker Air Carrier CEO Rick Hatton’s concept is to have five DC-10 VLATs deployed at strategic locations around the country so that all threatening wildfires could be reached.
NEED FOR EXCLUSIVE USE CONTRACT
In order to provide the most effective use of 10 Tanker Air Carrier’s VLATs, Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management needs to award an Exclusive Use Contract. A Call When Needed contract does not provide adequate funding should critical equipment be needed. With an Exclusive Use Contract Tanker 910 would be available within hours of a wildfire call. A CWN contract calls for delayed deployment which can mean that a wildfire burns out of control.
DEMONSTRATED CAPABILITY
10 Tanker Air Carrier’s VLATs have fought wildfires effectively on 685 missions and 129 wildfires for CAL FIRE, the Forest Service, 12 states and two foreign countries. With a capacity of 11,600 gallons equipped to drop water, foam, gel or long term retardant, 10 Tanker Air Carrier’s VLATs carry a greater capacity than any other firefighting aircraft deployed in the U.S. With jet speed Tanker 910 can fly from available tanker bases to the location of a wildfire in record time.
Rick Hatton
WILDFIRE THREAT IS ELEVATED FOR 2013
With an elevated wildfire threat predicted forSouthern California, with an Exclusive Use Contract Tanker 910 can be deployed to fight wildfires before they burn out of control. This is a prudent use of Forest Service resources. In spite of its size, Tanker 910 can drop on mountain ridges, fly into and out of canyons powered by jet engines. This year, progress in aerial firefighting can be made using proven gel products such as FireIce which can knock wildfires out before they threaten lives and property. Modern loading equipment can load Tanker 910 in minutes.
VLATS ARE NEEDED TO CHANGE THE WAY THEU.S.FIGHTS WILDFIRES
This year there is a critical need to change the way the Forest Service fights wildfires with the deployment of 10 Tanker Air Carrier’s VLATS. Spending funds on an Exclusive Use Contract provides the Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management with a VLAT that delivers the highest level of productivity of any air tanker available in theU.S.
FIRE AND AVIATION MANAGEMENT NEEDS A FIREFIGHTING FLEET COMPOSED OF SINGLE ENGINE CAIR AIR TANKERS, LARGE AIR TANKERS AND VERY LARGE AIR TANKERS
An aerial firefighting fleet should be comprised of several types of aircraft. The Forest Service should deploy SEATS, LATS and VLATS for the greatest effectiveness. With federal funding limited, Tanker 910 provides a prudent use of limited funds. The aircraft is a “game changer” in so many ways.
Tony Morris
Founder & Communications Director
Wildfire Research Network [WRN]
The Forest Service needs to make up its mind how it wants to approach managing its responsibilities with regard to fire and a cohesive long term commitment for the resources needed to accomplish the task. Call-when-needed contracts are a sham and serve only to disguise the real costs in the budget process while adding enormously to the actual costs because of lost efficiencies and indecision. I agree we need a balance of the various tools but more than that we need some leadership at the top.