Neptune was the first- ever US operator to contract with the USFS in 2011 for a Next Gen aircraft in the form of Tanker 40, a converted British Aerospace 146.

Neptune's P2V fleet performed 47,000 firefighting missions and dropped 97 million gallons of fire retardant during this period.

After three years of research into aerial firefighting requirements and future direction, Neptune Aviation selected the BAe 146 type for development in 2010.

A Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the US Federal Aviation Administration for modifications of BAe 146 aircraft to be used for the aerial dispersant of liquids was issued in March 2010.

Neptune chose the BAe 146 as its primary aerial firefighting aircraft because of the 146's reliable slow flight characteristics, high cruising speed and outstanding maneuverability.

Neptune Aviation was the first US operator to contract with the USFS in 2011 for a next-generation aircraft in the form of Tanker 40, a converted BAe 146.