"Bart D. Hull" wrote in message .. .
I don't know the specifics but here in Arizona they just grounded all
firefighting planes. What a joke! Just before prime fire season.

News said something about recent accidents but I don't know of any.

Could be the beginning of some real interesting precedents.

Bart D. Hull

Tempe, Arizona

I don't get the "joke", other than Ariz Gov. Napolitano trying to make
political hay out of this.

The cancellation of the firefighting contracts by the Forest Service
was due to recommendations by the NTSB, released April 23, 2004:

http://www.ntsb.gov/pressrel/2004/040423.htm

These recommendations come after finding of air tanker crashes in
2002.

In summary, there are genuine safety risks in air tanker operation
under the current inspection guidelines. Until an M&I program can be
established to address the rigors of air-drops, I think it is a good
idea to ground the aircraft. As seen in horrific videos from the
2002 crashes, lives are at risk.

Mike