Early Deployment Supporting Texas and Oklahoma

Aero-Flite Inc. had an early start in March for the 2024 fire season, deploying five airtankers to Texas and Oklahoma, ready to support firefighters challenged by the Smokehouse Creek Fire, now the second-largest in US history.

The airtankers include two Type 1 RJ85 airtankers, one Type 2 Dash 8-400AT airtanker, and two CL415 amphibious airtankers. Two land-based airtankers departed to Abilene Regional Airport airtanker base in Texas on February 29, 2024, one day after receiving the request. The two CL415 skimmers departed to Clinton/Sherman Airport in Oklahoma on March 1, 2024. And one RJ85 departed Spokane March 3, 2024 for Texas.

“This is a significant deployment this early in the season” shared Chris Niemann, General Manager at Aero-Flite. “I believe it is our largest early deployment in the history of our company, which spans over 60 years.”

“Our focus is providing safe, effective and efficient operations for our federal and state partners” continued Niemann. Read more …