Having travelled much, I explain to him how it is likely that US C-130 (tiny plane) maker bribe government office not to look at any...then he says...but how? Why? What of people's losses? Then I tell him: Do you really think that bureaocrats who sit in DC give damn about fires on other side of continenant...not their houses. He see's light after that.
Maybe they should go advertise in states affected, go to insurance company???
For a parallel argument in favor
of using the IL-76, consider how and
why the majestic Martin Mars waterbombers
were brought into service: http://www.vectorsite.net/avmars.html#m7
As well, consider the times and how and by whom
decisions were made in that case.
The Mars are North America's largest by
a long shot, but they are old, scoop only,
and use special fuel, not widely available.
The supertanker out of Oregon is claiming the
same big-volume liquids turf as the IL-76, but
takeoff-capable out of fewer runways than
the IL-76 if it is effective; not a given as this
tanker remains unproven.