US aerial firefighting operator Minden Air is evaluating the BAe 146-100 airliner as a replacement for its Lockheed P-2 Neptune air tankers, which are among ex-military aircraft that have been grounded because of airworthiness concerns.
Working with BAE Systems, the Minden, Nevada-based operator planned to begin evaluation flights last week of an unmodified BAe 146-100 owned by a private individual in Canada. "If the evaluation is a success, we will probably acquire the aircraft," says chief executive Leonard Parker.
A series of flight tests involving a Minden Air fire pilot and BAE flight-test engineer are planned in Nevada, Idaho and Utah. They will evaluate the BAe 146's handling qualities and mission performance in the high-temperature, high-altitude conditions typical of Minden Air's firefighting environment.
Minden Air would design the tanker modification. The BAe 146's capacity as an air tanker is still being assessed, but will be 9,500-13,300 litres (2,500-3,500USgal), compared with 9,300 litres for the company's P-2s, says Parker.
Source: Flight International
