Some air tankers may return to service

MISSOULA — Heavy air tankers could return to the skies as part of the battle against wildfires if the Federal Aviation Administration is able to certify their safety, says an Interior Department official, but the focus now is on preparing for use of other aircraft.

“There are things we can look at that might put the air tankers back in service,” said Rebecca Watson, an assistant Interior secretary. “But those are long-term things.

“Short-term, we are looking at how we deal with this fire season. And I think we have a good plan.”

The Forest Service and Interior Department last week canceled all contracts for use of 33 air tankers that usually drop retardant on fires during the summer. Federal officials cited concerns about the planes’ safety.

Air tanker companies such as Neptune Aviation Services Inc. of Missoula, and some congressmen from the West, said an entire industry was being blamed for one contractor’s poor record.

The two crashes that prompted a safety investigation involved planes owned by Hawkins & Powers Aviation Inc. of Greybull, Wyo. Both lost their wings while dropping retardant in 2002.

There is talk of involving the FAA in the inspection and certification of air tankers, so at least some of the aircraft can again be used, Watson told the Missoulian in a telephone interview Friday.

“The land management agencies are not in the business of aircraft safety,” she said. “We don’t have that capacity. But there is talk now on the (Capitol) Hill about how they might encourage the FAA to get involved.”

For now, though, fire agencies are focused on the 2004 fire season.

“We are anticipating a year like 2000,” Watson said. “We have very dry fuels out there. In fact, the large-diameter fuels are at their driest level in recorded history.”