DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker reactivated

DC-10 Tanker 911, July 2, 2012 on the Shingle fire in Utah. Photo by Scott G. Winterton (Click to see a larger version.)

The DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker has been activated again. The crew is returning to their base at Victorville, California and will fly the aircraft to Boise to be activated on Saturday.
The fire season in Montana is heating up and today’s Situation Report showed six new large fires in the state. On Thursday a cold front with very strong winds moved across the area and undoubtably had a significant effect on the existing fires.
The DC-10 can carry 11,600 gallons of retardant, about six times more than the P2V air tanker which comprises 8 of the 9 large air tankers currently active under long term contracts. The ship worked on fires for several weeks, receiving very good performance evaluations, before being released from active duty on June 16.
The DC-10 has only been offered a call when needed contract by the U.S. Forest Service, rather than a full-time exclusive use contract. The agency expects the aircraft to be available when they need it, but its owner, 10 Tanker Air Carrier, has said that after this year they will have to shut it down permanently if it is not awarded an exclusive use contract or activated on a regular basis .

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