This photo appeared at FlightAware, having been uploaded there on May 15. Could this be the project that Minden is working on, converting a BAe 146-200 into an air tanker that we told you about on March 28? According to the flight tracker at FlightAware, this aircraft, N146FF, last landed on May 15, at Missoula, but there is a rumor that it was at another airport yesterday.
UPDATE May 27
Wildfire Today has confirmed that Tanker 40 is Neptune Aviation’s BAe-146 conversion, which further explains why it was last reported landing at Missoula, the home of Neptune.
Minden’s BAe-146 conversion, Tanker 46, is currently at Fox Field in southern California.
So there are two or three BAe-146 conversion projects currently nearing completion:
- Minden’s,
- Neptune’s, and
- Tronos. (which may be the one that Neptune has)
But keep in mind, before any air tanker can contract with a federal agency in the United States they will have to get a Supplemental Type Certificate from the FAA, as well as certification from the Interagency Air Tanker Board.
Below is the photo that we ran on March 28 of the Tronos project.
UPDATE July 15, 2010
We just want to summarize the information we have. It appears there are two BAe-146 air tanker conversion projects underway:
- Neptune, at Missoula, MT: Tanker 40, N146FF (formerly N608AW), serial #E2049, registration issued May 12, 2010, airworthiness issued May 23, 2010; owner: Aircraft Holdings Network Inc trustee, Las Vegas, NV. This aircraft was apparently converted by Tronos.
- Minden, at Minden, NV; Tanker 46, N446MA, serial #E2111, registration and airworthiness issued May 26, 2010; owner: Minden Air Corp, Minden, NV
