200th Air Tractor AT-802 Aircraft Delivered To Canada's Conair Group, Inc. for Aerial Firefighting
Air Tractor delivers its 200th AT-802 Single Engine Air Tanker to Conair Group, Inc. of Abbotsford, British Columbia
Olney, TX (PRWEB) March 29, 2005 -- Air Tractor, Inc. employees and
management celebrated the completion and delivery of the 200th AT-802 aircraft
to Conair Group, Inc. of Abbotsford, British Columbia in early March. The
AT-802F SEAT (single engine air tanker) turboprop aircraft will become the
eighth AT-802F to join Conair’s Aerial Firefighting Services fleet since the
Canadian specialty aircraft operations company purchased Serial #33 AT-802F in
1996, according to Leland Snow, president of Air Tractor.
“This is a big
milestone for Air Tractor. It reflects the leading role that the AT-802F has
come to play in initial attack firefighting operations all over the world. We
are very pleased and gratified that Conair has taken delivery of Serial Number
200,” Snow said. “The AT-802F has proven its worth with some of the world’s
largest aerial firefighting contractors as a reliable initial attack air tanker,
heavy tanker support, and wildland/urban interface area support. The versatility
of the AT-802F also extends into the off-season for forest protection, which
gives it year-round usefulness.”
The AT-802F is the only American-built,
FAA-certificated aircraft specifically designed and built for fighting and
controlling wildfires. Powered by a powerful, quiet turbine engine built by
Pratt & Whitney Canada, the 802F has a large 800-gallon capacity tank to
carry fire retardant, foam or water.
“AT-802F single engine air tankers
have been sold for fire fighting service in the United States, Canada, Chile,
Spain, Croatia and Australia,” Snow said. In the United States during 2004 the
AT-802F successfully worked state and federal fire fighting contracts in ten
states and comprised nearly half of the SEAT aircraft under contract to the
Bureau of Land Management in 2004. “More and more fire management officials are
recognizing the benefits and cost effectiveness of this plane. And as a result,
government agencies are specifying the AT-802F in multi-year contracts,” Snow
concluded.
Production of the largest aircraft in the
Air Tractor product line began in 1993, with two models of the 802 Series: the
AT-802 for high production agricultural spraying and the AT-802F, designed as a
single engine air tanker for aerial firefighting. The AT-802F can operate from
small airports for quick ferry time, allowing operators like Conair to support
their customers’ requirements for effective initial attack on small fires and
for extended attack in support of ground crews.
“Conair was the first to
employ the AT-802F for aerial firefighting in Canada, and we are extremely
pleased with its performance,” said Rick Pedersen, vice president and general
manager of Conair. “The 802 has been a reliable, cost-efficient aircraft for us.
All of our 802s are used exclusively for firefighting operations. The aircraft’s
speed, maneuverability, drop accuracy and rugged design are ideal for the wide
range of challenging conditions and terrain in which Conair operates. The
AT-802F, on wheels or on amphibious floats, provides our customers with a very
cost effective tool in their inventory. During our eight years operating Air
Tractor AT-802F aircraft, we’ve found them to be easy to support, operate and
maintain.”
Conair has eight different types of aircraft in its fleet of
49 that are dedicated for aerial firefighting services. Three of the eight
Conair AT-802Fs are equipped with amphibious floats from Wipaire to enable these
especially equipped planes to scoop water from lakes, rivers and ponds. Several
are dual-cockpit configurations that offer the flexibility for Conair to conduct
training or carry support personnel for remote base operations.
“The
float-equipped ‘Fire Boss’ version of the AT-802F is starting to get a lot of
attention,” Leland Snow said. “The folks at Wipaire designed and installed the
floats. It’s just one more way to expand the utility and capabilities of the
AT-802F and provide fire fighters a variety of effective tools at their disposal
to respond as conditions on the fire line change.”
Designed from the
wheels up as an initial attack firefighter, the AT-802F employs state-of-the-art
computer controls and hydraulic power for an exclusive 802F fire gate designed
to apply optimum coverage level to combat brush and grass fires or heavier
forest canopies blazes. Its accurate coverage capabilities and maneuverability
make the AT-802F highly effective in sensitive wildland urban interface fires,
narrow flight corridors and confined terrain areas.
“We are delighted and
honored to take delivery of the 200th AT-802F,” said Conair’s Pedersen. “This
Air Tractor milestone deserves special recognition.”
In business since
1974, Air Tractor, Inc. manufactures more aircraft for the agricultural aviation
industry than any other company at its production facilities in Olney, Texas.
For more information about the AT-802F single engine air tanker, other Air
Tractor aircraft or for the name of the nearest authorized Air Tractor dealer,
contact Air Tractor, Inc. at 940-564-5616 or check our website at www.airtractor.com/index.html
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/3/prweb222704.htm