Air Tanker Plan Next Year
Back in December of 2002, air tanker crashes prompted a report that said the current air tanker system was unsustainable. Almost four years later, we are still waiting for a new plan. We'll have to wait until next spring for the new plan (from RockyMountainNews.com).
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Forest Service expects by next spring to have a long-term plan for modernizing the nation's depleted fleet of heavy air tankers, a top federal official assured two Colorado congressmen Thursday....
"Their plan is to fully review the options and in about 10 months, next winter, they plan to release their findings and their plan for the future," Udall said. "That not only would answer the questions of, do we move to a federal fleet rather than a private fleet, but what sorts of aircraft should be in the mix."
Under the current system, private companies own the air tankers and operate them under contract to the federal government. Some have suggested that the federal government take over ownership of the air-tanker fleet.
"There's a legitimate debate about whether the air tanker fleet should be owned and maintained by the federal government," Udall said. "I haven't made up my mind."
First, I'm not sure why it has taken such a ridiculously long time to come up with a new plan.
Second, I don't think the federal government should own these aircraft. Contractors do a great job.
