The Future of US Aerial Firefighting - defining and implementing the correct path.

Published: 28 April, 2011

The 25th and 26th of May will see a dedicated Aerial Firefighting event being held in the nationals capital - Washington D.C.Over the last month Texas has experienced the worst wildfires in the state's history. However the US Forest Service currently have the smallest number of Large Air Tankers under contract in decades, thus leaving the U.S. more vulnerable than ever to destructive megafires. With the contract fleet of Large Air Tankers reduced from 44 to 18 there is now a growing need for an immediate and thorough review of U.S. Aerial Firefighting capability.

The conference will bring together leading Aerial Firefighting stakeholders and professionals with US political and government bodies to debate the significant challenges both financial and operational that the country faces in Aerial Firefighting.

Drawing from a wealth of US experience and knowledge the conference speaker line up has been developed to challenge the current thinking and deliver thought provoking questions.

Speakers confirmed include:

Tom Harbour - Director of USDA Forest Service Fire & Aviation Management
Ray Chaney - Battalion Chief, CAL FIRE - Aerial Firefighting Airborne Sensor Down Linking
Frank M. Gladics, Minority Professional Staff, U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resource Committee, USA- The Budgetary and Political Realities of replacing the existing fleet of large fixed-wing Tankers
Norman Christensen, Professor of Ecology, Duke University, North Carolina- Fire Management- Past, Present & Future
William Derr, Special Agent in Charge of California Region, US Forest Service (Retd): The Elements of Success & Measurement in Aerial Fire Fighting
· Rick Hatton - CEO, 10 Tanker Air Carrier - Raising the Bar in Fixed Wing Airtanker Operations
Mark Bickham, National Program Manager (Ret’d) Bureau of Land Management, USA- Single Engine Air Tankers

For the first time a live audience response system will be in operation at this conference to capture and present real-time information about the current concerns and challenges operators face during each fire season.

Delegates will have the opportunity to anonymously register their vote on a series of carefully selected questions about aerial firefighting operations. Delegates will also have the opportunity to ask their own question of the conference participants.

This prominent event in the US is open to all professional and government bodies involved in Aerial Firefighting and will address the most relevant and topical issues with the aim to develop the right balance and mix of aircraft for the USA.

For more Information: www.tangentlink.com

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