27 March, 2019: AerSale and Aero Air / Erickson Aero Tanker have signed a contract to build another firefighting air tanker for the company’s fleet at AerSale’s MRO facility in Goodyear, Arizona. From April 1st the conversion work on the MD-87 aircraft will formally begin. This will be the sixth aircraft modification by AerSale at Goodyear.
After the completion of the modification, the new Erickson Aero Tanker will cruise at 450 knots and carry 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in all environments up to 40 degrees Celsius. It will have a 900-mile loaded strike range, need only a 5,200-foot runway loaded, and both take off and land fully loaded.
Besides converting the air tankers’ original MD-87 aircraft, AerSale will also conduct all heavy maintenance on the Erickson Aero Tanker fleet.