Be-200 in the US?

[Feanor]

I've found several articles in multiple news sources stating that either the US forestry service, or the Pentagon are planning to purchase 10 Be-200 aircraft. Has anyone heard anything specific?

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The ones talking about the US buying it, claim that it needs to be modified with night ops capabilities. The ones claiming it's the forestry service say that the firefighting system needs to be adjusted.

 

[Gremlin29]

The US Forest Service doesn't own any fire bombers, they are all contracted through another party/government agency.

I did a quick google search and see the Be-200 has been undergoing flight testing for a US airworthiness certificate (which all aircraft must have) so it looks like somebody is going to be bringing them into the US with the idea of contracting them out for firefighting. DoD does lease aircraft though so it's totally possible somebody has something in mind.

 

[Ananda]

Is BE-200 already compatible with Western/US avionics and engine ? Is there already enough work on going with BE-200 to made them compatible with Western equipment ?

I remembered few years ago, there's an effort in Indonesia to Introduce BE-200 for Forestry service in here. This happen after the Government contracted 2 BE-200 for forest fire fighting during large scale forest fire in Kalimantan and Sumatra. The deal fell due to several considerations, but one of that is concern with high cost of maintenance due to limited compatibility with western equipment.

Berriev reportedly told Indonesian Government that they can made BE-200 compatible with western engine and avionics if the customers choose it. However since Indonesia at that time only look for 2 planes at most, the conversion cost considered to high to take. Anyway the main reasons the deal fell off, I believe due considerations that it will be cheaper just to rent those BE-200 from Russia again if there's another significant forest fire breakout, rather than purchasing and maintaining them.

 

[Feanor]

The US Forest Service doesn't own any fire bombers, they are all contracted through another party/government agency.

I did a quick google search and see the Be-200 has been undergoing flight testing for a US airworthiness certificate (which all aircraft must have) so it looks like somebody is going to be bringing them into the US with the idea of contracting them out for firefighting. DoD does lease aircraft though so it's totally possible somebody has something in mind.

They're supposed to participate in some form of Naval special forces exercises in Florida next year (2013) after which the Pentagon will make a final decision.

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It sounds almost too incredible to be true, especially given the fact that only a small number of Be-200 have been produced up to date, and no major export contracts have been won.

 

[Gremlin29]

There's at least one AN 225 running around in the US. I've seen it at several airfields. I don't recall the specifics but was told it has a unique specific to carry something other aircraft aren't suitable to carry. As I was googling I noticed a number of articles that were talking about the aging fire bomber fleet in the US. Seems to me the Be 200 offers some unique advantages (an amphibious heavy lift jet) that would make it an attractive possibility.

 

[Twain]

There's at least one AN 225 running around in the US. I've seen it at several airfields. I don't recall the specifics but was told it has a unique specific to carry something other aircraft aren't suitable to carry. As I was googling I noticed a number of articles that were talking about the aging fire bomber fleet in the US. Seems to me the Be 200 offers some unique advantages (an amphibious heavy lift jet) that would make it an attractive possibility.

That AN 225 stays pretty busy hauling commercial cargo anymore. I used to work in the freight forwarding business and I saw quite a few news stories about it being used for specialized cargos, usually some type of industrial equipment that couldn't be sent ocean freight because it was being delivered late. It also gets used from time to time just for the PR benefit.

 

[Feanor]

There's at least one AN 225 running around in the US. I've seen it at several airfields. I don't recall the specifics but was told it has a unique specific to carry something other aircraft aren't suitable to carry. As I was googling I noticed a number of articles that were talking about the aging fire bomber fleet in the US. Seems to me the Be 200 offers some unique advantages (an amphibious heavy lift jet) that would make it an attractive possibility.

There is only one An-225 anywhere in the world, period. It was the only one ever built. A second one, unfinished, is sitting at Aviant in Kiev. It's the largest transport in the world, so it gets used everywhere.

My real surprise was that there seems to be interest from the Pentagon in a Russian aircraft for the US military.

 

[Haavarla]

Sorry for OT. But have the one & only An-225 seen any engines upgrade?
It has six engines, one would think it would save huge amount of fuel with new engines..
What engines are on it now?

 

[Feanor]

Well it seems that CAST in their usual cool headed manner has gotten to the bottom of this. So the company that plans to market the Be-200 in the US is International Emergency Systems. They don't currently own any aircraft, but they plan on purchasing and leasing/operating 10 Be-200ChS aircraft, and on promoting the aircraft in the US. Given the huge price tag, and lack of particular demand, the whole plans seems utopian to put it mildly. Looks like the whole thing was an overblown media bubble.

bmpd -

Their website: I.E.S. - International Emergency Services

 

[jschogol]

U.S. Forest Service says BE 200 aircraft not yet suitable to fight forest fires

U.S. company wants Russian planes to fight forest fires

July 10th, 2012 | Flightlines | Posted by Jeff Schogol

As Air Force C-130s continue to battle forest fires in the western U.S., one company wants to put Russian water bombers into the fight.

TTE International Inc, based in Santa Maria, Calif., has contracted to buy 10 jet-powered BE 200 aircraft, which can make a water landing, scoop up 12 tons of water and then drop it on a blaze. The planes can also carry flame retardant.

But the Russian planes are currently not suitable for use against forest fires, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Mike Ferris.

“All airtankers used to suppress wildland fires on National Forest lands must have a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness certificate; must have approval from the Interagency Airtanker Board for the tanking system and retardant delivery performance standards; and must be maintained under a Continued Airworthiness Program acceptable to the USDA Forest Service that addresses the structural loads encountered in the fire environment,” Ferris said in an email. “The Be-200 currently does not meet any of these requirements.”

TTE President David Baskett said the Russian government has already asked the FAA to certify the BE 200.

“The FAA responded, I think it was in December – a year-and-half ago – with a letter saying, ‘Here are the rules; however, there is a special clause in the bilateral agreement that we maybe can work with you on for firefighting aircraft; please send us your proposal,’” Baskett told Air Force Times. “Russia has not yet sent the proposal. That proposal is supposedly, I’m told, is being worked on and developed to be sent.”

 

[Feanor]

Threads merged.