Companies mull options in wake of tanker decision

By Becky Bohrer

The Associated Press

BILLINGS, Mont. - Companies that provide aerial tankers for firefighting are exploring whether individual states would be willing to hire them, hoping to take at least some of the sting out of the federal government's decision to cancel its contract for large air tankers.

But some Western states questioned that option Thursday, citing budget constraints and their own liability concerns.

Chuck Butler, a spokesman for Montana Gov. Judy Martz, said such an arrangement seems unlikely given the reasons cited by the federal government for canceling its contracts.

"It doesn't appear to be an option," he said.

On Monday, the U.S. Forest Service and the Interior Department said they were ending the contract for 33 air tankers because of concerns with airworthiness and public safety. The decision, which affects eight companies, followed an April 23 report by the National Transportation Safety Board on three air tanker accidents.

Companies such as Missoula's Neptune Aviation Services see contracting with the states for their aircraft as one of a few options available to them if the government's decision stands. Some of the smaller firms said that without government contracts, they may have to close.

"We're still fighting," Neptune Aviation President Kristen Schloemer said. "We anticipate still flying."

Len Parker, an owner at Minden Air Corp. in Nevada, which is also interested in working with the states, said the large, fixed-wing air tankers can be flown safely. They have been used largely for initial attacks in wildland firefighting.

"There are no airworthiness concerns, from our standpoint," he said. "When maintained properly, they have a virtually infinite life, and there's no reason these can't operate well into the foreseeable future."

The federal agencies said that, while NTSB did not recommend ending the use of the air tankers, there was little time to respond to safety concerns with the fire season at hand.

Rose Davis, a spokeswoman at the National Interagency Fire Center, said it would be up to the states if they wanted to work with the companies. But she said, at this time, the tankers would not be allowed over fires on federal land.

Some state officials said they would be interested in having as many firefighting resources as possible available to them, they are concerned about costs and liability.

Officials in both Utah and Wyoming said the option of working with companies may be worth considering but noted that money was a problem.

"I have no money for a contract," said Ray Weidenhaft, fire management officer at the Wyoming State Forestry Division. "It's not an option for Wyoming, at least for this season."

Cliff Pearlberg, an information officer with the Arizona State Land Department Fire Management Division, said he doesn't believe it is likely the state would take up an offer, though he acknowledged that officials there are discussing the possibility.

Losing the air tankers "lessens our effectiveness in fighting fires. On the other hand, you can't have planes falling out of the sky, either," he said. "There are hazards to the public on both sides of the coin."