In this IIL aviation lecture Jim Wheeler will discuss the modernisation and expansion of aerial firefighting. The new tools open a significant opportunity to reduce losses in wildland, marine, oil platform, and rail fires. Additionally, he will present a case for rapid deployment for fires, oil spill dispersal and potential remediation.

Today’s devastating wildland fires are a result of climate change, forest management practices, and greater intrusion into the forested and fire prone areas. The results are far costlier in terms of human lives, property damage and precious resource losses. Today’s firefighting methods have changed little in the last 50 years. Modern aircraft with significant speed and capacity can, and are, making a difference. Marine fires, particularly ships and oil platforms can create ecological disasters. Speed and volume are the answer! The Global SuperTanker B747-400 is a large part of the modern process to provide speed and volume to devastating fire situations.

By the end of this lecture members would have gained an insight into:

• New tools available today to speed response to fires on land and sea lowering claims and costs
• The effectiveness of rapid response over land and water
• The future of saving lives and reducing property losses during catastrophic fire and oil spill situations

Speaker Bio: 
Jim Wheeler served in senior management leadership at Fed Ex for more than 25 years and as president and CEO of Evergreen International. He has consulted with several private equity firms. He is a 1969 graduate of Texas A&M University with a BBA in Finance.

Chair: David Sales, Director, Aerospace at Ed Broking LLP.