Firefighting Tankers Fly In Spite of Safety Concerns | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.29.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.23.24

 Airborne-Unlimited-04.24.24 Airborne-FltTraining-04.25.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.26.24

Wed, May 25, 2005

Firefighting Tankers Fly In Spite of Safety Concerns

Investigation Continues Into California Mishap

NTSB investigators Tuesday said they have not ruled out structural or mechanical faults in the crash of a firefighting Lockheed P-3 in California last month. Regardless, the US Forest Service has returned to service a portion of its aerial tanker fleet.

As ANN reported in real-time April 21st, the Aero Union Corporation tanker went down at night while on a training mission over California's Ishi Wilderness. The mishap claimed the lives of three people and touched off a small fire.

In typical fashion, the NTSB refused to rule anything out as its investigation into the crash continued.

"We've made no conclusions, preliminary or otherwise," NTSB spokesman Paul Schlamm told the Oakland Tribune. Even so, just two days after the mishap, a spokesman for the Forest Service declared officials were "cautiously optimistic" that structural failure was not a factor in the P-3 accident. The spokesman said the service would not ground its remaining tankers.

Even so, the number of tankers allowed to fly for the Forest Service has dwindled considerably. Only seven P-3s and two P-2Vs are in the skies fighting forest fires this season.

FMI: www.fs.fed.us

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.28.24): Airport Marking Aids

Airport Marking Aids Markings used on runway and taxiway surfaces to identify a specific runway, a runway threshold, a centerline, a hold line, etc. A runway should be marked in ac>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.28.24)

"It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for manned aircraft to see a drone while conducting crop-enhancing and other aerial applications at low altitudes and high speeds. We>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.28.24)

Aero Linx: The Skyhawk Association The Skyhawk Association is a non-profit organization founded by former Skyhawk Pilots which is open to anyone with an affinity for the A-4 Skyhaw>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.29.24)

“The T-54A benefits from an active Beechcraft King Air assembly line in Wichita, Kansas, where all required METS avionics and interior modifications are installed on the line>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.29.24)

Aero Linx: Aerostar Owners Association The Association offers the Aerostar Owner a unique opportunity to tap an invaluable source of information concerning the care and feeding of >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne 05.01.24: WACO Kitchen, FAA Reauthorization, World Skydiving Day

Airborne-NextGen 04.30.24: Skydweller Flies, Cassio 330, UAV Design Competition

Airborne 04.29.24: EAA B-25 Rides, Textron 2024, G700 Deliveries

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC