Aerial Firefighting
Aerial Excellence
The future of aerial firefighting takes flight
Building on more than 30 years as a trusted partner to the U.S. Forest Service and firefighting agencies around the world, Neptune Aviation continues to advance its aerial firefighting capabilities.
Our highly skilled pilots and specialized fleet of BAe 146 airtankers and Aero Commander 690A Air Attack aircraft help protect communities and support wildfire response when it matters most.
With a legacy built on experience and trust, we are focused on meeting the challenges ahead.
Aerial Firefighting Excellence
Legacy of performance
Neptune Aviation has been a leader in aerial firefighting since 1993, when we acquired our first Neptune P2V airtanker. The aircraft gave our company its name and marked the beginning of our aerial firefighting operations with the U.S. Forest Service.
In 2014, we began transitioning to our current fleet of BAe 146 airtankers. Over the past decade, the BAe 146 has demonstrated its effectiveness in aerial wildland firefighting, combining slow-speed flight capabilities with high cruising speed and exceptional maneuverability.
With a strong operational safety record and proven performance in the field, the BAe 146 can operate from airfields with minimal ground support, providing flexibility and efficiency in wildfire response.
Eyes in the Sky
Air Attack
Neptune Aviation launched our dedicated Air Attack services in 2024 and is already considered an industry leader, helping to improve the performance and safety of both ground and aerial firefighting operations.
Air Attack is the first aircraft deployed during wildfire operations. Serving as the “eyes in the sky above wildland fires,” our pilots provide real-time information about fire behavior, conduct fire surveillance and wildfire mapping, and coordinate the movement of all air assets battling wildland fires.
Our Aero Commander 690A aircraft delivers exceptional performance in mountainous terrain and is equipped to handle the rugged duty associated with flying above wildfires.
Learn more on our Air Attack page.
Fleet Profile
Neptune Aviation’s fleet of airtankers consists of nine BAe 146 aircraft.
Each plane can carry up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant or water and can be completely loaded in as little as eight minutes. Our “Active Response” drop system is the most advanced retardant delivery system in the world, offering precision on every drop.
Our five Aero Commander 690A aircraft are used for Air Attack. Smaller than air tankers, they offer exceptional performance in mountainous terrain and are equipped to handle the rugged duty associated with flying above wildfires.
