The nation's largest firefighting aircraft is one step closer to fighting fires as it has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
KKTV-TV reports that the Global SuperTanker, which is usually housed at the Colorado Springs airport but is currently in Arizona for repairs, will head back to Colorado on Friday.
The converted freighter, which can carry up to 19,600 gallons of retardant or water for 4,000 miles, was damaged by hail and had to undergo inspections.
The aircraft cannot fight fires on U.S. Forest Service land until a contract is approved.
CEO and founder of Global SuperTanker Services LLC Jim Wheeler says it has been hard to watch wildfires ravage places like California this summer but not be able to help.
