Neptune Aviation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerial firefighting, Aviation maintenance, Air charter |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Marta Amelia Timmons |
| Headquarters | Missoula , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Chile, International |
| Products | Aerial firefighting services, Fixed-base operator services, Air charter, Flight training, Non-Destructive Testing, FAA Part 145 Certified Repair Station |
Neptune Aviation Services Inc. is a company specializing in aerial firefighting, with its main office located at Missoula International Airport in Missoula, Montana. Established in 1993 by entrepreneur Marta Amelia Timmons, Neptune delivers aerial firefighting and aviation maintenance solutions throughout the United States, Canada, Chile, and other international regions. The company’s operations encompass fixed-base operator (FBO) services alongside air charter offerings.
As a privately held enterprise, Neptune holds registrations with the United States Forest Service, National Wildlife Federation, and Canadian Wildlife Federation. In 2015, the firm was actively involved in nearly 125 wildfire responses, predominantly across the Western U.S.
History
Marta Amelia Timmons founded Neptune in 1993 after acquiring Black Hills Aviation based in Alamogordo, New Mexico, subsequently moving the company’s base to Missoula, Montana. Neptune manages a fleet of nine British Aerospace 146 jets outfitted with the Active Response retardant delivery system, each capable of dispersing up to 3,000 gallons of fire suppressant. The company's subsidiaries comprise Northstar Jet—an FBO providing fueling, maintenance, hangar rental, and ramp services—a flight training school, Neptune Aviation Charter, Non-Destructive Testing services, and an FAA Part 145 Certified Repair Station (FAA CRS NI6R011N).
During the 1990s, Neptune operated six P2V Neptune airtankers as part of a nationwide fleet of 44 aircraft under exclusive three-year contracts with the US Forest Service. The company has maintained ongoing airtanker contracts and was the pioneer U.S. operator to sign a Next Gen aircraft contract with the USFS in 2011—introducing Tanker 40, a converted BAe 146. By 2013, Neptune transitioned fully from Lockheed P-2 Neptunes to an all-BAe 146 fleet, enhancing its strategic position in aerial firefighting.
Retired P2V aerial firefighting fleet
For more than twenty years, Neptune deployed the Lockheed P-2 Neptune aircraft in firefighting missions supporting both U.S. Forest Service and State agencies, completing approximately 47,000 sorties and releasing 97 million gallons of fire retardant.
Neptune officially retired its P2V fleet in September 2017 with a final coordinated flight ceremony. Nonetheless, this retirement was short-lived as CalFire reactivated two P2Vs shortly thereafter to assist in combating wildfires in California.
By 2018, Neptune had donated its P2V aircraft to various museums across the country including Estrella Warbirds Museum (California), T61 Memorial at Klamath Falls Airtanker Base (Oregon), Glendive Airport (Montana), Yankee Air Museum (Michigan), San Diego Air & Space Museum (California), and Missoula International Airport (Montana).
| Aircraft | Location |
|---|---|
| N203EV (formerly Evergreen Tanker 142) | Alamogordo Airport/ALM (Alamogordo, New Mexico) |
| Tanker 7 (P2V-5) | Estrella Warbirds Museum (Paso Robles, California) |
| Tanker 5 (P2V-5) | Glendive Airport/GDV (Glendive, Montana) |
| Tanker 10 | Missoula International Airport/MSO (Missoula, Montana) |
| Tanker 12 (P2V-5) | Location pending |
| Tanker 6 (P2V-5) | T61 Memorial, Klamath Falls Airtanker Base (Klamath Falls, Oregon) |
| Tanker 45 (P2V-7) | Yankee Air Museum (Belleville, Michigan) |
| Tanker 43 (P2V-7) | San Diego Air & Space Museum (San Diego, California) |
| Tanker 44 (P2V-5) | Neptune Aviation Services |
| Tanker 14 (P2V-5) |
BAe 146 Aerial Firefighting Fleet
Starting in 2007, Neptune initiated the development of advanced air tankers by assembling a team skilled in aerial firefighting, heavy jet operations, and aircraft modifications. After conducting three years of thorough research, the company chose the BAe 146 in 2010. That same year, in March, the FAA granted a Supplemental Type Certificate for modifications made to the BAe 146, and by 2016, the Interagency Airtanker Board had authorized its operational use.
Neptune spearheaded the adaptation of the BAe 146 as a firefighting aircraft aimed at replacing older models such as the P2V. The BAe 146 fulfilled the U.S. Forest Service's requirements for next-generation air tankers, which included turbine or turbofan engines, cruise speeds around 300 knots (345 mph), and a minimum retardant payload. Its combination of stable slow-speed flight, high velocity, and agility offered significant tactical benefits.
In 2011, Neptune became the first U.S. operator to formalize a contract with the USFS for deploying a BAe 146 tanker, beginning with Tanker 40. By 2016, Neptune had completed conversions of nine BAe 146 aircraft specifically for firefighting missions.
| Aircraft | Number in Service | Orders | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Aerospace 146 | 9 (+1 used for parts) | — | Acquired secondhand from various airlines across America, Europe, and Asia; average fleet age was 29.1 years as of July 2017 |
Incidents and Accidents
- On July 22, 2010, Tanker No. 44, a Lockheed P-2V-5 Neptune, sustained damage while landing at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport following a retardant drop over Rocky Mountain National Park. The aircraft overshot the runway which resulted in collapse of the nose landing gear and necessitated extensive repairs. Both the pilot and co-pilot were unharmed.