The U.S. Forest Service has added a second DC-10 on the exclusive use “next-gen” air tanker contract. Rick Hatton, the President and CEO of 10 Tanker Air Carrier, told Fire Aviation that their second DC-10 very large air tanker, Tanker 911, has been added to the exclusive use fleet. It had been on a call when needed contract, and would only be activated occasionally, and only if it was available.
Mr. Hatton said their third DC-10 which is being converted now, Tanker 912, should be airborne “by mid-season”, and it is also is being added to the exclusive use contract. So by sometime this summer, there will be three DC-10s available to fight fire.
10 Tanker owns three other DC-10s that are awaiting modification, Mr. Hatton said.
Great video. Only wished that the camera person had “panned” back and followed the drop. This might have answered a few questions about the DC 10’s effectiveness. (second thought, for some probably not). The rule is; if you have been flying the fire you can work thirty minutes past official sunset for that particular day. As mentioned before when we started spraying at night (1978) many thought it couldn’t been done safely. Did get one complaint, ” you’re keeping the baby awake”. Just can’t win sometimes.
Night drop or deceiving video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU-YPUuMTaU
This makes me wonder if this will start another round of contract protests or is an attempt to settle a existing protest. Hmm wonder wonder
It shouldn’t. The Next Gen contract that 10 Tanker was successfully awarded included a clause where the USFS could add aircraft to each award. I suspect not going that direction FIRST is a factor in 10 Tanker’ s protest of the Sole Source contract, and rightfully so, in my mind.
I believe if the USFS awarded all the additional aircraft slot to those contractors that had aircraft available, and still needed more, it would help their case against the sole source protests.
A VERY great news!