""This is not like getting in a 737 and going to 33,000 feet," Curdy said, emphasizing the intense demands placed on firefighting aircraft during operations."
""You're asking for a lot of power, a lot of [additional] fuel consumption than you would if you're high, just gliding through the air," Curdy explained, highlighting the operational challenges faced by pilots."
In summer 2021, Dauntless Air's "Fire Boss" airplanes assisted in fighting a Washington wildfire by skimming lakes to refill water. These aircraft, primarily owned by private contractors, consumed about $50 million in jet fuel last year. With rising fuel prices due to geopolitical tensions, costs could nearly double this year. Retired pilot Willis Curdy noted that aerial firefighting demands significant power and fuel, and companies can pass increased fuel costs to taxpayers. The U.S. Forest Service did not provide further comments on the situation.
Read at www.npr.org
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