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Air West - Press Releases

May 5, 2004 - Air West, Inc announced today that their summer fire fighting operations have begun with aircraft based throughout the state of Arizona. This year is the largest deployment of aircraft for the company with bases in Springerville, Prescott, Tucson, and Flagstaff. All aircraft will be used for “Initial Attack”, providing a rapid first response to growing wildfires. Air West’s aircraft will be used in daily reconnaissance flights for the Apache-Sitegraves, Prescott, Coronado, and Coconino National Forests as an “Air Attack” platform, acting as a base of operations over the fire, managing both aerial and ground based fire fighting resources. The agreements between Air West and the Forest Service should continue into Arizona’s monsoon season, typically beginning in late July.

Background on Air West

Air West, Inc is an executive air charter company based in Arizona providing service throughout the Southwest. Established in 1994, Air West has grown to be one of the five largest aircraft charter providers in the Phoenix area. Their fleet contains both piston and turbine powered aircraft, allowing their customers to have the flexibility to choose the equipment that will fulfill their mission, their schedule, and their budget.

In addition to private air transportation and airfreight operations, Air West is an approved aircraft contractor for the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Office of Aircraft Services (OAS), providing “Air Attack” operations (fire surveillance, detection, and management) during the forest fire season. Air West has been working with the USFS and OAS since 1995. In 2002 they were part of the team that contained the Rodeo-Chediski Fire in Northeast Arizona and the McNalley Fire in the Sequoia National Park. In 2003 Air West provided aircraft services to help contain the Aspen Fire outside Summerhaven, Arizona, along with several fires throughout Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.

Air West Inc | (480) 396-0688 | (877) 368-7885 | E-Mail: charter@airwestinc.com