DC-4 LARGE AIRTANKERS REMAIN OFF CONTRACT

BOISE, IDAHO, August 30, 2004 – U.S.D.A. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth and U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Director Kathleen Clarke today announced that three DC-4 large airtankers would not be returning to federal firefighting service in 2004 because inadequate information exists to determine an operational service life limit (OSL) for these aircraft.

The information on the OSL for the DC-4 is key to determining the safety of these aircraft.
The operational service life is expressed in how many hours an aircraft can be safely flown according to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). It takes into account the stresses imposed on the airframe during different flight maneuvers. The agencies are currently in discussions with the OEM to determine if the data needed for an engineering study to establish a service life limit exists and is available. The aircraft were produced in the 1950’s by McDonnell-Douglas, now a part of Boeing Corporation.

The report to the Chief and the Director from Dyncorp Technologies indicated that the contractors did not have enough data to provide to Dyncorp to determine the OSL. Fort Worth Texas-based DynCorp Technical Services was hired June 9th, 2004, to provide the expertise in analyzing the airworthiness documentation provided by contractors for each heavy airtanker. The DC-4 large airtankers are owned by ARDCO, Incorporated of Tucson, Arizona.

On May 10th, 2004, the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior terminated the contracts for 33 large airtankers to be used in firefighting missions due to concerns over the airworthiness of the aircraft, and firefighter and public safety. The decision was based on safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued April 23, 2004, at the conclusion of their investigation into three fatal airtanker crashes related to in-flight structural failures.

For further information contact Rose Davis or Randy Eardley, Public Affairs at the National Interagency Fire Center at (208) 387-5437 or (208) 387-5895.

#

Federal Firefighting Agencies Will Return Two Additional Large Airtankers to Service
Will Monitor Plane Stress in Fire Environment

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2004 – The Departments of the Interior and Agriculture today announced they will return two P-2V aircraft to firefighting service on a limited basis. Both aircraft would be outfitted with structural health monitoring devices to gather information on the stresses that occur to airtankers in the fire environment, which will help determine vital safety information for the remaining P-2V fleet.

“This is another step in developing a clearer picture of the airworthiness of these aging aircraft,” said Rebecca Watson, Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the Department of the Interior. “We are going to ensure the safety of these aircraft while redoubling our ongoing efforts to protect communities from wildfire.”

“Safety is a top priority and a core value of our firefighting program,” said Mark Rey, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the Department of Agriculture. “With our current fleet of aircraft, including single engine tankers, helicopters and other resources, fire managers continue our success rate of stopping over 99 percent of fires upon initial attack.”

The current fleet consists of 800 firefighting aircraft, including a mix of both large and small airplanes as well as helicopters. In June, USDA and DOI contracted with private companies for more than 100 aircraft to ensure firefighting effectiveness this season.

Minden Air Corporation of Minden, Nev. owns one of the P-2V and Neptune Aviation of Missoula, Mont., owns the other aircraft. Minden’s airtanker is already outfitted with the monitoring device; Neptune’s would need to be installed. The aircraft would only be used in unpopulated areas and be subject to more frequent inspections. This technique is similar to the Federal Aviation Authority’s experimental use certification, which is used by FAA to reconcile uncertainties in airplanes.

The two airtankers join seven P-3 Orion aircraft that were returned to service following a thorough safety analysis. The remaining 10 aircraft in the P-2V fleet will not be returned to service at this time because unlike the P-3 aircraft, the operational service life, which is expressed in how many hours an aircraft can be safely flown according to the original equipment manufacturer, has not yet been established. However, USDA recently contracted with Lockheed-Martin, the original manufacturer of the P-2Vs, to obtain historical data on the aircraft to help make that determination. That process will likely cost approximately $500,000 (to be paid by the federal government) and will take three to four months to complete.

On June 9, USDA contracted with DynCorp Technical Services, a Texas-based aviation engineering firm, to provide the expertise in analyzing the airworthiness documentation provided by contractors for the large airtankers. USDA and DOI relied upon DynCorp’s analysis of that documentation to make the decision to return the two P-2Vs with monitoring devices to service.

Sandia National Laboratories Aging Aircraft Program will collect and transmit the data from the monitoring devices to Lockheed-Martin engineers who will use the data in helping to determine an operational service life. Data from a DC-7 owned by TBM Butler Aviation and used by the State of Oregon in firefighting operations will also be collected from its monitoring device and studied.

The P-2V operated as a land-based patrol bomber in the 1940s by the U.S. Navy and was the predecessor to the P3. The P-2V is known for its versatility and long flight range of up to 2,000 miles. It began to be used as an airtanker by private companies in the 1970s. Because the P-2Vs were decommissioned for military service before the U.S. Navy developed structural analysis and fatigue life limit programs, a service life limit was never established.

USDA and DOI in May terminated the contracts for 33 large airtankers to be used in firefighting missions due to concerns over the airworthiness of the aircraft, and firefighter and public safety. The decision was based on safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued in April after its investigation into three fatal airtanker crashes related to in-flight structural failures.

#

Limited Number of Large Airtankers Recalled to Service 

BOISE, IDAHO, July 2, 2004 – U.S.D.A. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth and U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Director Kathleen Clarke today announced five airtankers would return to firefighting service, possibly as early as next week. Click here for the more...

Firefighting Agencies to Increase Aerial Resources for Wildland Fire Operations

Contacts: Rose Davis (208) 387-5437
Anne Jeffery (208) 387-5458

BOISE, IDAHO, JUNE 1, 2004 --U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and U.S. Department of the Interior agencies will acquire more than 100 additional aircraft to aid in this year’s wildland fire season.

“We are committed to using available resources to stop fires before they become unmanageable,” said Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth. “These additional aircraft will enable fire managers to fully maintain their ability to stop nearly 99 percent of all fires on initial attack and continue to protect communities.”

Federal agencies will contract with private companies for up to 36 single engine airtankers (SEATS), 26 Type 1 (heavy) helicopters, 45 Type II (medium) helicopters and two CL 215 airtankers. In addition, eight U.S. military C-130 aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System are available. The additional aviation assets will cost approximately $66 million.

“The new contracts and additional aircraft will ensure that we maintain a high degree of aerial support and effectiveness,” Bureau of Land Management Director Kathleen Clarke said. “We are working to ensure that our firefighters are safe and have the resources they need to defend communities against wildfires.”
These newly contracted planes and military planes will be part of the existing fleet of more than 700 firefighting aircraft that drop fire suppressants.

Federal and state firefighting partners developed the plan based on an evaluation of existing resources, fire danger, efficiency and cost effectiveness as well as a recent investigative report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). When NTSB found that the agencies could not ensure the continuing airworthiness of 33 large fixed-wing airtankers, federal agencies last month terminated contracts for the tankers due to concerns for the safety of their crews and the public. The airtankers were used in wildland firefighting primarily for initial attack and support.

Wildland fires are managed and suppressed on the ground. Aerial resources are one of the many tools that assist firefighters in meeting their goal of successfully suppressing nearly 99 percent of all fires on initial attack. Fire managers have gradually increased the use of smaller planes and helicopters in firefighting support because of their maneuverability compared to the larger airtankers.

Thousands of wildland fires each year are suppressed on initial attack without the benefit of air support since not every ignition needs aerial support.

#

BOISE, IDAHO, MAY 10, 2004 – The U.S.D.A. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior announced today that they are terminating the contract for 33 large airtankers due to concerns over the airworthiness of the aircraft and public safety. The large fixed-wing airtankers were used in wildland firefighting primarily for initial attack and structure protection support.

The decision comes in response to findings and recommendations contained in the April 23, 2004, National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) report on three previous airtanker accidents. One critical NTSB finding states “it was apparent that no effective mechanism currently exists to ensure the continuing airworthiness of these firefighting aircraft.” The NTSB report also concluded that the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior were responsible for ensuring the safety of firefighting aircraft. Private companies operate the 33 airtankers under a contract with the federal agencies during the fire season.

Since most of the large airtankers were designed and used for military operations before their acquisition by contract companies, the NTSB report also indicated that a complete history of maintenance and inspection records are not available for many of them. This lack of documentation makes it impossible to guarantee airworthiness, according to the NTSB. The average age of the large airtankers is 48 years with some more than 60 years old.

“Safety is a core value of the firefighting community and it is non-negotiable,” said Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth. “To continue to use these contract large airtankers when no mechanism exists to guarantee their airworthiness presents an unacceptable level of risk to the aviators, the firefighters on the ground and the communities we serve.”

“We take the findings and recommendations made by NTSB very seriously.” said Director Clarke, “Chief Bosworth and I are committed to working with other federal agencies, our state partners, Congress, industry, and the public to understand and adjust to this change while continuing to provide safe and effective fire management and suppression."

The large airtankers are one of many tools that firefighters use, but wildland fires are managed and suppressed on the ground, not from the air. During any year, thousands of wildland fires are suppressed on initial attack without the benefit of air support.

The agencies developed a strategy for the 2004 firefighting season to supplement aerial resources with other available aircraft such as large helicopters and helitankers, single engine airtankers (SEATS), and military C-130 aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS). A strategy for long-term aviation asset management and acquisitions of newer aircraft based on available funding will be developed by the leadership of the Forest Service and the DOI agencies.

“Clearly the days of operating older aircraft of unknown airworthiness for firefighting operations are over,” said Chief Bosworth. “We are grateful to the pilots, crews, and operators of these aircraft, who have dedicated themselves to firefighting efforts over the decades. We have the greatest fire management and suppression program in the world, and we will continue to protect lives, property and our nation’s natural resources.”

For further information, contact Rose Davis, Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management Public Affairs at (208) 387-5437.

#