Mon, Aug 01, 2011
California Company Did Not Meet Agency's Safety Standards
The U.S. Forest Service announced today that it has terminated
its contract with Aero Union of Sacramento, CA, because the company
failed to meet its contractual obligations. The company was
providing six airtankers under exclusive-use contracts to the
Forest Service.
"Our main priority is protecting and saving lives, and we can't
in good conscience maintain an aviation contract where we feel
lives may be put at risk due to inadequate safety practices”
said Tom Harbour, director of the Forest Service’s Fire and
Aviation Management program. “This contract termination
notwithstanding, we possess the aircraft support needed for this
year's fire season."
The Forest Service has access to additional aviation assets to
meet operational needs. Two other private companies provide 11
large airtankers under exclusive-use contracts. In addition, there
are two very large airtankers available through a “call when
needed” contract, as well as eight military firefighting
aircraft. The five-year contract the Forest Service signed with
Aero Union in 2008 required participation in a continued
airworthiness program, which included a Fatigue and Damage
Tolerance Evaluation and structural inspection program.
In April 2011, Aero Union informed the Forest Service that the
Federal Aviation Administration found the company was not in
compliance with its mandated structural inspection program
requirements. Because of the extraordinary stresses placed on
aircraft during aerial firefighting and to prevent catastrophic
failures and ensure safety, the Forest Service adds requirements to
its airtanker contracts that are specific to the agency’s
firefighting mission. The Forest Service will not use aircraft that
do not meet its requirements.
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