Interagency Aviation Strategy - July 2008 - National Wildfire ...

Figure 20
NIAC Analysis of Previous Study
NIAC found the study useful in helping determine numbers of potential aircraft. Costs
were not as useful due to the nature of the models being used at that time.
The current federal airtanker large airtanker fleet is 16 (with 3 additional available) and
additional capability contracted by the states of Oregon and Alaska. The Forest Service
has 3 additional P3 aircraft which may be converted into airtankers in the future. This
project is proving valuable to understand safe conversion of excess military aircraft into
airtankers, but may not lead to the best long term program solution as it remains a single
purpose aircraft.
Concerns over maintenance and airworthiness programs continue to be a major issue with
this firefighting resource. Ability for the wildland fire agencies to evaluate current and
future platforms must be determined and a program defined and managed consistently.
The following are considerations for any aircraft being proposed for the future
airtanker fleet.
• Regardless of aircraft provenance, the type certificate holder must be ready to
provide the necessary engineering support for continued airworthiness
• Although NIAC Phase II recommended transport category aircraft for airtankers,
both Military and Commercial Aircraft can be viable for employment in special
missions
• Either Military or Commercial Aircraft CANNOT be taken “off-the-shelf” and
employed in the special mission roles for which they were not designed
• Employing an aircraft in a special mission role, regardless of its origin, requires
agencies review and fully evaluate the vendors continued airworthiness program
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