Optimum use of air tankers in initial attack: selection, basing, and transfer rules

Francis E. Greulich; William G. O'Regan

doi:10.2737/PSW-RP-163

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Optimum use of air tankers in initial attack: selection, basing, and transfer rules

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Francis E. Greulich, William G. O'Regan

Year:

1982

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/PSW-RP-163

Source:

Res. Paper PSW-RP-163. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 8 p

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Download (PDF 558 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/28893.pdf

Abstract

Fire managers face two interrelated problems in deciding the most efficient use of air tankers: where best to base them, and how best to reallocate them each day in anticipation of fire occurrence. A computerized model based on a mixed integer linear program can help in assigning air tankers throughout the fire season. The model was tested using information from California Division (now Department) of Forestry District 1, which in 1967 maintained a fleet of five aircraft and three air bases. The results confirmed the soundness of the model's mathematical structure and demonstrated that a computer program can be written to interpret the solution to this resource allocation problem.

Keywords

air tanker model, initial attack, resource allocation

Citation

Greulich, Francis E.; O'Regan, William G. 1982. Optimum use of air tankers in initial attack: selection, basing, and transfer rules. Res. Pap. PSW-RP-163. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 8 p.