Three Neptune Aviation Air Tankers Added to Firefighting Fleet

MISSOULA – Just ahead of wildfire season in Montana, the U.S. Forest Service is upping its firefighting aircraft fleet, with three of those air tankers coming from Montana.

At the large fire conference in Missoula on Tuesday, Tom Harbour, who is the Director of Fire and Aviation Management, said that the U.S. Forest Service is adding four additional aircrafts to its next-generation firefighting fleet.

Three BAe 146’s will come from Missoula-based Neptune Aviation, bringing the total firefighting fleet to 21 large air tankers and more than 100 helicopters.

The announcement comes after Montana Senator Jon Tester recently pressed U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell to commit his agency to having additional air tankers ready to fight fires by July 1.

Read more: http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/25572107/three-neptune-aviation-air-tankers-added-to-firefighting-fleet