Neptune Aviation Services to upgrade to A319
Aerial firefighting firm Neptune Aviation Services has announced plans to upgrade its airtanker fleet to the Airbus A319
The company has partnered with Aerotec & Concept, an aircraft modification firm based in France, to convert a set of Airbus A319 fixed-wing aircraft for wildland firefighting.
The A319s will be gradually be phased in by Neptune in the coming years, with the first of the new fleet due to be operational in time for the 2027 wildfire season. The company plans to operate a full fleet of 10–15 A319s when deliveries are complete.
Each A319 will be able to carry around 4,500gal of retardant when in operation, compared with the maximum 3,000gal that can be carried by Neptune’s current fleet of BAe 146 planes. They will also have a greater fuel capacity, allowing Neptune to respond to fires in remote areas.
“While our current fleet of BAe 146 aircraft is among the best in the industry, we started planning for this upgrade two years ago as part of our commitment to deliver the best solutions to our customers,” said Jennifer Draughon, President of Neptune Aviation. “The Airbus A319’s larger size and higher maximum takeoff weight allow for greater fire retardant capacity, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing the safety of our crews, firefighters on the ground, and the communities we protect.”
Draughon spoke to AirMed&Rescue as part of our August 2024 issue.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.