Neptune Aviation, a firefighting air tanker company in Missoula, Montana, announced plans on Dec. 3, 2024, to create a fleet of jet airliner firefighting aircraft based on available Airbus A319s.
In 2010 as the U.S. Forest Service emphasized the need for more modern firefighting aircraft, Neptune Aviation embraced the BAe 146 jetliner, giving high payload, speed, and range, to replace its older fleet of P-2 Neptune patrol bombers.
Neptune’s foray into Airbus A319s as air tankers continues the company’s ongoing modernization, according to company officials. It also marks the first effort to use A319s as firefighting aircraft.
The company intends to have an operational A319 by the 2027 wildfire season.
Expected capacity of the A319 conversion is at least 4,500 gallons of fire retardant, compared with 3,000 for the BAe 146s.
European company Aerotec & Concept has been identified by Neptune as the partner in developing the A319 for aerial firefighting.
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