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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Eyes on the skies: $16.7 million would keep radar stations in top shape through 2030 ... Our view: RCC's health care opportunity can't be lost ... Medford plans to go after utilty debtors ... Eyes on the skies: $16.7 million would keep radar stations in top shape through 2030 ... Our view: RCC's health care opportunity can't be lost ... Medford plans to go after utilty debtors ... WILDFIRES Forest Service will use old Coast Guard planes to fight fire Comment By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Jul. 14, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Jul. 14, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News With the latest installment of bigger and faster wildfire-fighting air tankers held up by contractors fighting over bidding, the U.S. Forest Service has taken possession of the first of seven decommissioned Coast Guard planes that are being refurbished to drop retardant on wildfires. The first of the planes, an HC-130H, is based in Sacramento, California, and ready to start flying as far as 500 miles to drop a retardant payload — far enough to reach most of California, Oregon and Nevada, and parts of Idaho, Utah and Arizona. Another plane to be used for training comes online this year, and the rest through 2019. They are expected to last about 10 years before being deemed too old to fly, said Forest Service spokeswoman Jennifer Jones. They are part of a conversion to faster planes that can carry bigger payloads that has been going on since 2012. The Forest Service has contracts covering 21 large air tankers, 15 of them next-generation models that fly faster and deliver bigger payloads than in the past. Up to seven more of the next-generation planes are held up by bidding protests. The Forest Service can also call on several military C-130s that can be quickly converted to air tanker duty. The Coast Guard planes represent a departure from the old air tanker fleet model of privately owned former military aircraft operated by contractors. Congress last year authorized the ownership transfer of the planes and $130 million to refurbish the planes and install fire retardant gear. They are owned by the Forest Service but are being flown and maintained by contractors. "While we will continue to rely on our partners in private industry to provide air tankers, operating aircraft ourselves will provide additional stability to the fleet," Tom Harbor, director of fire and aviation management for the Forest Service, said in a statement. Several planes in the aging air tanker fleet, many of them submarine chasers built in the 1950s, have crashed. In 2011, the Forest Service terminated contracts for eight planes for failing to meet contract standards. Just how effective air tankers are in stopping the spread of wildfires in the West remains a matter of belief rather than fact. In 2013, the U.S. Government Accountability Office noted that there is no scientific data to support air tanker use. Harbor said the agency is still working on a study to determine if air tankers are cost-effective. By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Jeff Barnard The Associated Press Posted Jul. 14, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501