I think these firefighters should be honored next fire season, these pilots give it all and they lose at least one pilot per year, since it is a very dangerous job flying low level in little or no visibility during the drop, with dead trees with no vegetation on them that stick up 40 feet plus high. During 9-11 ceremonies in 2005 we ought to think of all the fire fighters who give it all including these pilots, because each year they risk life and limb to battle the big ones. Fires, which threaten to destroy vast amounts of wilderness and whole cities and towns as we have seen on our TV sets and reports from FEMA. The costs are very serious also. Protecting the people at home are these people who are part of our first responder teams.

Fire Fighter Aircraft were in the news in 2002, 2003 and 2004. We have had issues also with tanker planes:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/20...26-tanker_x.htm

http://www.air-and-space.com/20020815%20Camino%20Fire.htm

Timberwolf Aviation is also working hard fighting forest fires with upgraded equipment now and they are gearing up for the challenges facing the 2005 season. Neptune Aviation in Missoula MT also on the scene as private enterprise steps up to the plate for Government Contracts to fight fires. Senator John McCain is concerned too for his state as we can recall the devastation of the three fires last year in the high country of AZ. It seems if it is not fires in Arizona it is something, they just got done with flooding too.

After reviewing the NTSB data on Fire Aircraft, I am concerned as many with the older aircraft fighting these fires and the brave men who love to fly them for actually very little money. Here is some interesting information on this matter, which tells about plane crashes. If you will remember the Forestry plane crashes. Here is the C-130 NTSB report:

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=2...621X00954&key=1

and also the next week they lost a PBY, here is that report:

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=2...726X01227&key=1 .

Aerial fire fighting is risky business and we need to honor these pilots who protect our forests and natural resources; our personal property and our lives. Think about it.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/