The World’s Largest Aircraft to Fight Wildfires Will be Based out of Colorado Springs

The Colorado Springs Airport will be the operating base for the world’s largest firefighting tanker.

Global SuperTanker Services, LLC, announced Wednesday (08/12/15) that an agreement with the airport has been reached, for the operation of the Boeing 747-400. The aircraft is the fastest, longest-range, and most effective aerial firefighting platform in the world.

The president of the company, Jim Wheeler stated, “The Colorado Springs airport is centrally located and has the ideal support infrastructure to allow immediate response to virtually any national or global emergency.”

“The Global SuperTanker is a firefighting resource that can be called upon to help communities across our country and around the world. Having a critical resource like this in Colorado Springs will spotlight our beautiful City and enable us to position ourselves on the leading edge of aerial firefighting,” said Colorado Springs Fire Chief, Christopher P. Riley.

Bret Waters, Director of the Colorado Springs Office of Emergency Management, stated “Strong partnership is a key component to community emergency preparedness. We welcome the employees of Global SuperTanker and the tremendous capability they bring to our region.”