10 Tanker Air Carrier

10 Tanker Air Carrier is an aerial firefighting company based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company has operated since 2006. The site describes it as one of the only fleets in the world with newly developed Very Large Air Tankers.

The company flies DC-10 air tankers. The site says each DC-10 can deliver 9,400 gallons of fire retardant within 8 seconds, spread up to a mile long. The site says this creates greater containment lines in less time.

The DC-10 program started in 2002, when discussions began to convert a DC-10 jetliner into a firefighting aircraft. Retardant tests were done in research and development by 2003. In 2004 the owners began the program to install retardant tanks, and the FAA later issued the certificate for the tanks.

The Forest Service approved the aircraft after coverage and flow tests. CalFire signed the first contract for the aerial firefighting version of the DC-10 in late summer 2006. Forest Service contracts followed in 2009.

The site says the company responds to hundreds of wildfires each year. It says the aircraft have delivered millions of gallons of retardant worldwide. The company says its mission is to push the capabilities of aerial firefighting.

The site has careers and job listings, a gallery and an FAQ page. It lists a chief pilot on the team page. A DC-10 fact sheet can be downloaded from the site.

The company address is 2503-A Clark Carr Loop SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87106. The site includes a contact form. It also has accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X. The site says the aircraft help save wildlife and resources.