Hawkins & Powers Faces Uncertain Future
Here is an article about the future of firefighting aircraft in the U.S. In particular, it focuses on Hawkins & Powers out of Greybull, WY (from the Los Angeles Times).
GREYBULL, Wyo. — In the 3 1/2 years since two of its aircraft broke up in flight, Hawkins & Powers Aviation Inc. has gone from being one of the country's largest aerial firefighting firms to the brink of bankruptcy.It has lost key government contracts for the use of most of its heavy air tankers and essentially has been forced from a business it helped pioneer.
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Like Hawkins & Powers, the entire aerial firefighting industry faces an uncertain future.
Some companies are struggling to regain financial footing in the 19 months since the federal government canceled contracts for large air tankers used to drop retardant on wildfires. The move was prompted by concerns raised about the planes' airworthiness and public safety after the crashes. Although some planes were allowed to return to service later, their numbers were sharply reduced. And the government has fortified its firefighting arsenal with single-engine air tankers and helicopters.
These companies have relied on older aircraft converted to fight forest fires. Although it is sad to see these companies facing difficult times, upgrading their fleets would help ensure the safety of the pilots.
An example of a newer airplane is the Bombadier 415 that scoops water up out of a lake or the ocean.
