N907AS

This article covers airframe N907AS, a British Aerospace-built regional jet delivered in 1989 with manufacturer serial number E2156. The airframe is a British Aerospace BAe 146-200A originally built by British Aerospace and currently held by Bank Of Utah Trustee (a corporation located in Salt Lake City, UT). The aircraft is registered in the US and carries the fixed-wing multi-engine category designation; its documented configuration change to a firefighting role is a defining feature of the airframe’s recent history. The passenger cabin was removed and a retardant tank installed, marking a significant conversion from its original airline layout.

The airframe’s cabin has been physically altered from its original seating layout: the original seating for 109 passengers was removed and the interior stripped to accommodate a retardant tank and related firefighting systems, reflecting a mission-centric retrofit. Avionics fitment specifics are not published in the available data, but the aircraft’s operational profile is now oriented toward airtanker missions rather than scheduled passenger service. Based in the owner’s jurisdiction of Salt Lake City, UT, the aircraft’s home base and operator details beyond the trustee ownership are not published; however, registry and configuration records emphasize its conversion to a firefighting role, which imposes unique maintenance cycles and structural inspections associated with retardant tanks, drop systems, and low-altitude tactical flying.

The British Aerospace BAe 146-200A occupies a niche as a short-to-medium-range regional jet with a high-wing, four-engine layout that enables good low-speed handling and steep approach capability, attributes that also make the type adaptable to special missions such as aerial firefighting. With a range of 1,970 nm and cruise near 404 kts, the platform offers sufficient transit capability for reassignment between bases and fire zones. Market demand for converted BAe 146 airframes tends to center on specialized operators and government contractors; maintenance and resale considerations for this specific airframe are dominated by its firefighting conversion and the consequent inspection regimes and mission equipment tradeoffs.