| I think these firefighters should be honored next fire | | | | Missoula MT also on the scene as private enterprise |
| season, these pilots give it all and they lose at least | | | | steps up to the plate for Government Contracts to |
| one pilot per year, since it is a very dangerous job | | | | fight fires. Senator John McCain is concerned too for |
| flying low level in little or no visibility during the drop, with | | | | his state as we can recall the devastation of the three |
| dead trees with no vegetation on them that stick up | | | | fires last year in the high country of AZ. It seems if it is |
| 40 feet plus high. During 9-11 ceremonies in 2005 we | | | | not fires in Arizona it is something, they just got done |
| ought to think of all the fire fighters who give it all | | | | with flooding too.After reviewing the NTSB data on |
| including these pilots, because each year they risk life | | | | Fire Aircraft, I am concerned as many with the older |
| and limb to battle the big ones. Fires, which threaten to | | | | aircraft fighting these fires and the brave men who |
| destroy vast amounts of wilderness and whole cities | | | | love to fly them for actually very little money. Here is |
| and towns as we have seen on our TV sets and | | | | some interesting information on this matter, which tells |
| reports from FEMA. The costs are very serious also. | | | | about plane crashes. If you will remember the Forestry |
| Protecting the people at home are these people who | | | | plane crashes. Here is the C-130 NTSB report: also the |
| are part of our first responder teams.Fire Fighter | | | | next week they lost a PBY, here is that report: .Aerial |
| Aircraft were in the news in 2002, 2003 and 2004. | | | | fire fighting is risky business and we need to honor |
| We have had issues also with tanker planes: Aviation | | | | these pilots who protect our forests and natural |
| is also working hard fighting forest fires with upgraded | | | | resources; our personal property and our lives. Think |
| equipment now and they are gearing up for the | | | | about it.Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum |
| challenges facing the 2005 season. Neptune Aviation in | | | | board. |