The Global Super Tanker, a converted 747 designed to fight wildfires, has been grounded in California even as fires rage, and its operators say it's because of "red tape" imposed by the U.S. Forest Service. "We just happen to be the biggest, fastest fire truck in the air," said Jim Wheeler, CEO of Global SuperTanker Services, which owns and operates the airplane. But the company said in a news release on Friday the U.S. Forest Service said its contract limits firefighting aircraft to 5,000 gallons of fire suppressant. The 747 carries up to 19,000 gallons. Wheeler says he protested the contract and asked for an explanation for the rule. An agency spokesman said in an email the agency couldn't comment, because of the company's protest. "Why is the United States Forest Service keeping [the 747] grounded?" asked Global SuperTanker in their news release. They haven't gotten an answer.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/business-military/super-tanker-grounded-by-contract-dispute