Aviation

    A SEAT and DC-10 LAT sit on the runway at PIH.

Pocatello Tanker Base (PIH) operates as a Retardant and Fuel hub for the Northeastern Great Basin Area and helps facilitate aerial operations in both the Northern Rockies and the Rocky Mountain zones.


    Two LATs wait on the tarmac
    These Fire Bosses or Scoopers will gather water from lakes to fight fires

The facility is mandated open from late June to early October. It is staffed by two permanent Tanker Base Managers and four seasonals. Additional Staff is brought in as needed to deal with high volumes of work.


    Two VLATs await orders at Pocatello Tanker Base

The Pocatello Taner base is the only Great Basin Air base that is Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) capable and housed three of the four VLATs contracted with the U.S. Forest Service for the first time this year.


    Helitack Brochure

With improvements to the Ramp and Pit in the spring of 2024, Pocatello Tanker Base exceeded it 10-year average of 1.015 million gallons of retardent this year by loading 1.2 million to aid fire supproession efforts across 6 states.


    Helitack Brochure