The videotaped catastrophic failure of two airtankers last summer dramatically highlighted an industry long in need of reform. The recent Blue Ribbon Panel Report on Airtanker Safety did an excellent job of listening to and reporting on the concerns of many within the industry. The resultant USFS permanent grounding of all C-130A and PB4Y Airtankers was long overdue.Now where do we go from here? The money required to properly fix this failed low bid contract system will explode an already burgeoning USFS Fire and Aviation budget. Is USFS leadership willing and able to properly fix this system?The safest solution that quickly resolves the most issues would be to turn the entire Federal fixed wing airtanker program over to the US Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard. Why should the taxpayer pay twice for what the government can do once? The Guard and Reserves have been supplementing the USFS contract airtanker fleet for years using MAFFS (Modular Airborn Fire Fighting System) equipped C-130s. Their safety record is outstanding. Recent developments in delivery systems makes the Modular System very effective. Pentagon planners have many more C-130s in their inventory than desired. Even with today's full plate of international affairs, many Guard and Reserve units are scrambling for missions to fulfill. Forty aircraft would cover the entire Continental U.S. and Alaska fire fighting mission.By using the Reserves and Air National Guard to fly this critical homeland defense mission you would get the airframes, equipment, training, maintenance, resources and leadership unparalleled to anything the USFS could ever afford, and get the job done right!Most importantly this would end the failed, low bid, blood money USFS contract system that has over the last 40 years cost 156 aircrew lives (200% of the fleet) and give the U.S. taxpayer the best, safest return on investment.Juan Browne
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/features/reader-mail/avmail-january-13-2003