N477NA

This write-up covers airframe N477NA, a British Aerospace-built regional jet completed in 1988 with manufacturer serial number E2103. The airframe is a British Aerospace BAe 146-200A originally produced by British Aerospace and is recorded on the U.S. registry. Ownership is held by Neptune Aviation Services, a corporation based in Missoula, MT, US, which operates the aircraft from that base. Notably, the airframe has been modified from its original passenger configuration to an aerial firefighting role, reflecting a significant mission conversion rather than routine passenger-transport registry actions.

The airframe no longer maintains a passenger cabin; the interior is converted to aerial firefighting configuration with retardant tanks and mission equipment replacing the standard seating layout. Avionics and mission systems are adapted to support retardant delivery operations, tactical crew coordination, and low-altitude approach profiles typical of firefighting sorties. Operated from Missoula, MT, US by Neptune Aviation Services, typical missions focus on regional wildfire response within the aircraft’s approximate ferry and tactical range, leveraging the platform’s ability to operate from shorter runways. Maintenance considerations for this specific aircraft include structural and systems modifications associated with firefighting tanks and delivery hardware, plus the additional inspection regimes tied to rapid cycle loading and low-level operations.

The British Aerospace BAe 146-200A family occupies a niche for quiet, short-field regional operations and has been repurposed by specialized operators into roles such as aerial firefighting due to its stable low-speed handling and multiple-engine redundancy. Competing platforms in the firefighting conversion market include other regional jets and converted turboprops; selection hinges on tank capacity, operating cost, and runway performance. Buyers and operators should weigh the BAe 146’s aging airframe considerations, parts availability, and the bespoke maintenance demands introduced by retardant systems when evaluating resale or continued operational use.