Tue, Apr 26, 2005
Promises To Reverse Budget Cuts To Reinstate Aerial Firefighter
Funding
California Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger promised Monday to reverse deficit-mandated
budget cuts so that the state's aerial firefighting fleet can stay
in the air.
"We want the full fleet (out there)," Schwarzenegger told
reporters in Sacramento. "We want to
protect the people from fires." He was quoted by the Argus
newspaper in Pleasanton, CA.
Under the budget currently in place,
Schwarzenegger admitted he cut $7 million from the California
Department of Forestry budget. If those cuts stand, at least some
of the state's 23 aerial tankers would have been grounded and other
firefighting resources would have been curtailed.
The actor-turned-governor said he's
concerned about tanker safety, though -- especially about aging
warbirds flying firefighting missions for the US Forest Service. He
told reporters he's especially worried about those aircraft flying
over California's many populated areas.
The Russia Option
What about Russia's offer of an
Ilyushin tanker to help California out during this fire season?
Governor Schwarzenegger said he's been briefed by members of
Congress on the offer. Russia has offered an Il-76 to help
fight forest fires in the US and some California lawmakers believe
that's a good idea. Over the weekend, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher
(R-CA) told reporters that accepting the Russian offer may be the
best alternative in a fire season where aerial tanker choices are
slim to say the least.
"The Russian jet has four times the
capacity of the biggest US air tankers and would provide
much-needed assistance to California's fire departments," he
said.
There's also the Evergreen
International Boeing 747 outfitted as a tanker. But certification
of that aircraft has reportedly been delayed until at least June --
well into the fire season.
More News
Airbus Racer Demonstrator Makes Inaugural Flight Airbus Helicopters' ambitious Racer demonstrator has achieved its inaugural flight as part of the Clean Sky 2 initiative, a corners>[...]
A little Bit Quieter, Said Testers, But in the End it's Still a DA40 Diamond Aircraft recently completed a little pilot project with Lufthansa Aviation Training, putting a pair of >[...]
Line Up And Wait (LUAW) Used by ATC to inform a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway to line up and wait. It is not authorization for takeoff. It is used when takeoff clearance >[...]
Contributing To The Accident Was The Pilot’s Use Of Methamphetamine... Analysis: The pilot departed on a local flight to perform low-altitude maneuvers in a nearby desert val>[...]
From 2015 (YouTube Version): Overcoming Obstacles To Achieve Their Dreams… At EAA AirVenture 2015, FedEx arrived with one of their Airbus freight-hauling aircraft and placed>[...]
Airbus Racer Helicopter Demonstrator First Flight Part of Clean Sky 2 Initiative
See All