MISSOULA, Mont. – Neptune Aviation Services, based at the Missoula Montana Airport, is preparing for wildfire season as they continue their year-round firefighting operations. Recently, they have been actively deploying aircraft to various parts of the country to tackle fires.
The company, which operates under federal contracts, is set to deploy two more air tankers this week. Vice President of Operations, Nic Lynn, explained the meticulous preparation that goes into getting ready for fire season. "And then the week of. It's just putting the final few things in the airplane, the crews come in, put their bags in and we're ready to go," Lynn said. "Because the key is to be up and available so the minute that call comes in, we're 15 minutes from notification to wheels up to on the way to the fire."
Neptune's aircraft are currently stationed across the country in states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Florida, in areas where the Forest Service anticipates fire activity. Lynn mentioned that while Neptune has not yet deployed in Montana, their operations are flexible. For instance, a tanker leaving Missoula for Colorado might stay there if needed or move back to Montana if fire activity increases.
Read fully on MontanaRightNow.com
