[Stoat]

Of course you're right, but the point here is that it's been the negligence of the U.S. Forest service throughout the past several decades that has allowed this situation to come to pass.
Naturally, nobody here is advocating the use of unsafe aircraft. The point here is that a history of negligence, poor planning, and buckling under the pressure of radical environmentalist demands has created this unacceptable situation, where we are now even more under-served than before.

[EGPWS]

The point here is that a history of negligence, poor planning, and buckling under the pressure of radical environmentalist demands has created this unacceptable situation, where we are now even more under-served than before.

Well said, and I agree whole heartedly.

However, the use of unsafe, or not proved safe aircraft is not a precedence that is conducive to alleviating the issues at hand, in all reality it would just perpetuate this sorry scenario.

I apologize if I have veered from the focus of the thread for if I have it has been unintentional.