With the DC-10 being activated again, I am reminded of the shortage of air tankers during the Myrtle fire in the Black Hills of South Dakota a few weeks ago, which during the first six hours had no large air tankers. On the radio a conversation between two people in the Operations section could be heard discussing the no-show of the air show. I could sense the frustration in their voices. One of them suggested that they consider requesting the DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker, but they did not know with certainty the nearest air tanker base where it could land and reload with retardant.
They knew that the aircraft is too large for most of the dozens of air tanker bases, since it has a wing span of around 160 feet and a weight of about a half million pounds. The physical layout of the bases and the runway, taxiways, and ramps at the airports are not designed for the size and weight of such a large air tanker.
However, there are eight bases that can accommodate the DC-10 in the western United States, according to Pam Baltimore, an Acting Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Forest Service in Washington D.C.
- SBD – San Bernardino, CA
- MCC – McClellen – CA (Sacramento)
- MWH – Moses Lake, WA
- BOI – Boise, ID
- IWA – Mesa-Gateway, AZ (Phoenix)
- HIF – Hill AFB, UT
- HLN – Helena, MT
- CPR – Casper, WY
When contemplating using a DC-10 air tanker on a fire, aviation personnel consider, in addition to the cost per delivered gallon, the fact that it can cruise at 564 MPH, and the retardant capacity of 11,600 gallons, equivalent to almost six P2V or four BAe-146 air tankers, which carry about 2,000 and 3,000 gallons, respectively.
That blazetamer product belongs to an Australian co I believe?? Would like to see Fireice from Geltech as the replacement for phos chek here in the US (if it ever does happen) .I say we support the US co’s and keep the US jobs; first and foremost 🙂
Like Israel Chemicals Ltd.?
If there were alternate policies for the use of other suppressants in LATs and VLATs in the US, this aircraft could reload with water only at the nearest rated airstrip and self inject suppressant concentrate. It then becomes a viable direct attack aircraft.
that fireice product from Geltech might be a good alternative product for the DC10?
Or others that can be mixed easily like BlazeTamer380….
There are maps of the MAFFS bases and VLAT bases on the NICC website under Aviation
All you need is phoscheck 🙂
Add Austin & Midland Texas, Roswell & Albuquerque, New Mexico and Victorville, Ca.
The reload base at Victorville has been completely dismantled and shut down. While the airport can house the aircraft, it is no longer set up for retardant.
The bases that Pam mentioned (above) are “current” air tanker bases that are fully equipped to handle Tanker 911.
While many airports are capable of having Tanker 911 land/take off, it takes quite a complex retardant operation to support a VLAT.
Last I heard victorville is no longer a reload base. Cal Fire pulled all of their equipment out of there.
What about West Yellowstone? I saw C5As there 20 years ago.
ramp weight bearing, C-5’s got lotsa wheels,
Good to hear this…
Thanks for the info.