A massive jet repurposed to make fire retardant or water drops on wildfires, nicknamed the 747 SuperTanker, could soon appear in the skies of California as it has received a contract from the state's firefighting department. Jim Wheeler, president and CEO of Global SuperTanker, which owns the airplane, announced the contract reached with Cal Fire on Monday.
The aircraft and its crew were also issued clearance cards by Cal Fire, Wheeler said, meaning inspections were passed.
It was not immediately clear when or where the converted Boeing 747 will make its appearance. In July, CBS News reported the plane remained grounded by the U.S. Forest Service as it had yet to receive a contract from the federal agency.