Hello everyone, thanks so much for all of your great comments, insights and links..it's those sorts of contributions that make Free Republic the Best site on the internet :-)
I should let you all know that we're extremely lucky to have among us JohnA, who is a Partner in Global Emergency Response and is contractually linked with Air Routing International, now a partnership
out of Houston, and Total Corporate Aviation Services Ltd, a private federal corporation, of
Canada, HQ in Calgary. JohnA is an expert in matters pertaining to wildfires, air tankers, and relevant Government policy.
In my experience it's been quite rare that a "definitive source" such as someone in JohnA's position is available in a public forum such as this and is able to field your questions. If you have friends or aquaintances who are either involved with or merely interested in wildland firefighting, air tankers or Government policy (and the accompanying shenanigans, abuse, corruption and political game-playing) I would urge you to send them over to this thread, as this is an opportunity to get definitive answers to your questions and comments.
Be sure to visit the Global Emergency Response website at:
www.waterbomber.com
Thanks again, Stoat.
Yes - please do visit our website.
We know Boeing has been hitting it up - hard -,
especially the videos, in May.
Boeing has captured 80% of sales of a/c to the
CIS and has $1.3B invested in Russia, last time
I looked. Among their closer associations is the
strategic alliance with our joint venture partner,
Ilyushin Aviation.