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Seven air tankers approved for firefighting

A 1964 P-3 Orion air tanker, foreground, and a 1947 DC-6 tanker sit grounded on the tarmac outside of the Prescott Fire Center at the airport in Prescott, Ariz., in May. At least seven P-3 Orion aircraft are expected to be back in firefighting service soon. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
A 1964 P-3 Orion air tanker, foreground, and a 1947 DC-6 tanker sit grounded on the tarmac outside of the Prescott Fire Center at the airport in Prescott, Ariz., in May. At least seven P-3 Orion aircraft are expected to be back in firefighting service soon. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

CHICO, Calif. – Seven air tankers operated by Chico-based Aero Union Corp. have now been approved for firefighting duty, and company President Terry Unsworth expects an eighth of the firm’s P-3 Orion aircraft to be back in service soon.

The U.S. Forest Service approved five of the planes for use last week, reversing a May decision to ground all 33 of the large air tankers used to fight wildfires across the nation.

Twenty-four of the 75 Aero Union employees laid off because of the groundings are back to work, and more are expected to return in the next few weeks, Unsworth said.

The 230-employee company also owns two DC-4s and three SP2H Neptunes, which remain grounded.

The government canceled all 33 of its heavy tanker contracts over safety concerns after two tankers operated by Hawkins and Powers Aviation Inc. of Greybull, Wyo., broke apart in midair over Colorado and California in 2002.

The reinstatements come as the fire danger grows, and as fewer California National Guard helicopters are available to fight fires this summer because they’ve been sent to Iraq or are out of service for repairs.

The state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says it will work instead with local and out-of-state agencies to make sure there are enough of the choppers to fight California wildfires.

The department usually uses at least five Chinook and 10 Black Hawk helicopters from the guard each fire season. This year, the guard can supply the state with only three or four of each type.

“The (military) deployments are hurting us in not having aircraft available,” said Mike Padilla, the department’s aviation chief.

Guard spokesman Doug Hart said California has agreements with states, including Nevada and Oregon, to use their equipment when necessary. But other states also are cramped by the deployments.

However, the California Guard is slated to get a new, specially equipped firefighting helicopter later this month: the Firehawk, a Black Hawk helicopter fitted with a large water tank and a snorkel to draw water.

The state’s own fleet of small air tankers and helicopters also remain available.