Evergreen International Aviation has won certification to operate a B747 Supertanker during the upcoming wildland firefighting season.
Evergreen recently received an interim letter of approval from the Interagency Air Tanker Board, augmenting a Supplemental Type Certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration in November. That clears the giant tanker to assist firefighters around the world starting this season.
The Supertanker is a version of the wide-body Boeing 747 used to ferry passengers and cargo around the world. Evergreen says it represents the first of a new breed of planes designed to accommodate firefighting and other emergency needs of private and public agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
It is capable of flying 600 mph, two times as fast as any tanker in use today, with 20,000 gallons of water, eight times as much as its largest predecessor.
It can drop water from high, medium and low levels. In fact, it even can drop part of its load at one level and part at another.
The Supertanker's patented pressurized system can disperse water at high pressure for an overwhelming response, or at the speed of falling rain. The pressurized system allows for drops at higher altitudes, which makes it safe for low-visibility night-time runs.
According to Evergreen officials, the Supertanker showed impressive results during tests administered by the U.S. Forest Service.
"The cutting-edge aircraft proved it belongs on the front line, from the onset, to fight wildfire day and night," they said. "It gives agencies an incredibly versatile firefighting tool."
Evergreen International Aviation has been supplying firefighting aircraft for decades. The company invested five years and $50 million of its own funding to develop the Supertanker, which it considers the next generation of firefighting aircraft.
"It offers a significant value for American taxpayers, saving homes, natural resources, and most importantly, lives," the company said. "When employed properly, the Supertanker has the capability to save the U.S. government billions of dollars in fire suppression, natural resource and tourism losses - and rehabilitation costs - every year."
Evergreen said it plans to continue developing the Supertanker's capabilities. It said the next step will be to prove the vehicle's usefulness in coping with oil spills, biological or chemical spills and radiation leaks.
Republished with permission of The News-Register.
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