First Of Its Kind: The Airbus A319 Is About To Take On An Exciting New Mission

Neptune Aviation is now turning the Airbus A319 into a next-generation aerial tanker, an aircraft that is best known for short-haul airline routes. This gives the jet a new mission, with the aircraft planning on dropping fire retardant on wildfires. The Missoula-based operator is phasing out its BAe 146 fleet in favor of bringing the first converted Airbus A319 into the program beginning in 2026.