Missoula’s Neptune Aviation Prepared For Forest Service Contracts [AUDIO]

Missoula-based Neptune Aviation is already prepared for an expected contract from the U.S. Forest Service to provide jet-powered air tankers to help fight wildfires throughout the west.

Neptune CEO Dan Snyder says his company is ready to respond with both 1950's model P2V Neptune prop-jet tankers, as well as the newer model BAE 146 jet powered takers that provide greater speed and increased capacity to provide slurry in firefighting efforts.

Snyder said two of the BAE 146 aircraft were already in use last summer, and were very successful in fighting wildfires, so he is confident the Forest Service will renew their contract for this fire season.

Snyder says the coming fire season may be a repeat of last year, in which over a million acres of forest were burned in the west.

Neptune Aviation CEO Dan Snyder