Aero-Linx!

Scouring the information super airways can sometimes be a tough, if educational, task for the Aero-News staff... but it also allows us to check out some truly neat and exciting sites, so it's not that bad a gig. On any given day, we may check dozens (and often hundreds) of different sources for story ideas, and facts confirmation. And, as is the nature of our business, much of this is done on the Internet.

The ANN gang decided we probably shouldn't keep some of the neat sites, info resources, and organizations we've discovered to ourselves... so we decided to bring you Aero-Linx. These are the sites that WE check out -- when we need added perspective, a new spin on a day's topic... or just want to escape into cyber-aero-space for awhile.

Look for some of our favorite sites, coming each day to ANN via Aero-Linx. Suggestions for future Aero-Linx segments are always welcome, as well.

Aero Linx: Forest Service Aviation

The story we did a couple of days ago about the purchase of new aerial firefighting tankers got us thinking about the role aviation plays in many areas that we might not consider. Take, for instance, the U.S. Forest Service. They use aircraft for a variety of roles and missions, including personnel transport, research, forest rehabilitation, law enforcement support, aerial photography, infrared detection, and fire prevention and suppression. The Forest Service owns and operates 44 aircraft and contracts over 800 aircraft annually ranging from both fixed wing and helicopter.

FMI: www.fs.fed.us/fire/aviation