June 13th Press Release

Victorville, CA. Jun. 13, 2011

10 TANKER AIR CARRIER DEPLOYS TWO MODIFIED DC-10 AERIAL FIREFIGHTING AIRCRAFT ON MASSIVE NORTH AMERICAN WILDFIRES.

10 Tanker Air Carrier, a provider of DC-10 aircraft with special capabilities to drop fire suppressant on wild fires, has received urgent requests from firefighting agencies early in the 2011 fire season. In May and early June, 10 Tanker has been tasked by the US Forest Service and the Province of Alberta, Canada to provide DC-10 Airtankers, each capable of dropping more suppressant in a single load than any aircraft in service. The US Forest Service and the Province of Alberta Canada have independently tasked 10 Tanker to provide DC-10s, which carry 11,600 U.S. gallons (44,000 liters) at jet speed to the fire, significantly enhancing the fire agencies’ ability to contain fires threatening property and livelihoods.

The US Forest Service dispatched a 10 Tanker aircraft in May to Texas, and a DC-10 is currently flying missions on the fires in Arizona. In Canada, a DC-10 is flying multiple missions on a massive fire in northern Alberta.

The modified DC-10 brings improved capabilities and technology to the nation’s aerial firefighting arsenal. Developed by 10 Tanker with private capital over four years of design, manufacture, testing, and certification, the DC-10 was first placed in fire service by California in 2006. After a successful “trial year” on a “call when needed” contract, the DC-10 has been contracted for “exclusive use” by California every year since, insuring it’s availability on a one-half hour call-up, and providing an unprecedented level of protection and cost effectiveness against California’s notorious mountain wildfires.

Now in it’s sixth year of fire operations, 10 Tanker has flown over 365 missions in California, Washington, Australia, and now Texas, Canada, and Arizona.

Fire incident commanders and attack supervisors who have used the DC-10 regard it’s capacity, jet speed, rapid turnaround, and constant-flow delivery system as a significant step-up in capability whenever retardant is called for in large quantities to contain wildfires.

10 Tanker has the operational and financial strength to grow it’s fleet of newer technology large Airtankers to meet future federal requirements as agency-contracted fleets are upgraded through competitively bid contracts. Working closely with state and federal professional fire agencies, 10 Tanker will continue to deliver cost effective solutions to the nation’s growing need for wildfire protection.