July 18, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

747 Jetliner, Converted to Firefighter, is Almost Ready

A 747 jetliner, converted into a firefighting bird that can drop 19,000 gallons of fire retardant or water at a time, is one step closer to beginning operations in California for the first time, it was reported Sunday.

The “Global SuperTanker” has been used on fire in Chile, and a smaller 747 have been used to dump fire retardant or water on wildfires in California before. And a DC-10 tanker has been used to help put out fires from Malibu to Oregon as well.

But the owners of a company that own this 747 had been frustrated this summer, as their request to rent out the plane at fires languished before federal bureaucrats.

The web site fireaviation.com reported that the U.S. Forest Service has issued interim approval for the newer, bigger 747, which goes by the callsign “Tanker 944,” to be used in California. The company will have to reapply when the federal government publishes new rules for large aerial tankers on fire lines.

CBS News had reported two weeks ago that the Global SuperTanker was caught in a paperwork mess, as the plane had been approved by the FAA last September and had been in use in foreign nations since then. But the U.S. Forest Service was only issuing permits for planes that could drop up to 5,000 gallons per pass, far below the 19,000 gallons that can be let loose by Tanker 944.

“There’s a lot of cost involved in doing this, a lot of testing and a lot of paperwork, and I think that scares a lot of people,” said the Global Supertanker’s owner, Jim Wheeler, in a CBS Evening News interview two weeks ago.

Tanker 944 actually got federal approval for interim use last January, allowing the plane to be tested and evaluated on fire in the United States. But that is rainy season, and the permit expired unexpectedly on June 15, the company said.

In Washington, the USFS put out a statement that the interim permit is for 17 months “during which (Global SuperTanker) must take steps to ensure its 747 aircraft delivers retardant in a manner that is effective and efficient and aids firefighting efforts on the ground.,” aviationnews.com reported.

The aviationnews.com site said the original 747-100 tanker plane was built by Evergreen Airlines in 2009, but it was retired when Evergreen went bankrupt. Global SuperTanker bought the hardware and the rights to the system, and installed it in a newer, more-powerful 747-400.

The smaller DC-10, called Tanker 910, has reportedly been retired. A new Tanker 910 is now in service, as is a sister DC-10 called Tanker 912.

Tags: , , , in News
Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Nearly $1B Secured for Refinancing of Westfield Century City Mall

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The proceeds will replace a $925 million commercial mortgage-backed securities loan, originally issued by Morgan Stanley in 2023 and due...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays...

Tesla Seen Nearly Crashing into West LA Home After Collision

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Footage depicted a blue Prius on the road with significant front-end damage A crash involving injuries was reported around 12:30...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

Hundreds of Red-Legged Frog Tadpoles Released in Santa Monica Mountains

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Once widespread in California, red-legged frogs vanished from the Santa Monica Mountains by the 1970s Nearly 600 California red-legged frog...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

Westwood Village Board to Discuss Public Art Initiative

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The initiative aims to enhance community pride, boost local business revenue, and address urban blight through public art corridors and...

Beverly Hills Plans Major Apartment Development Near Civic Center

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The site, currently holding 13 residential units, is slated for demolition to make way for the new development A proposal...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...