SAN DIEGO -- The California Department of Forestry said it is still on track to having military helicopters take part in fighting the next big wildfire by this summer.

Representatives from Miramar, Camp Pendleton and Navy Region took part in another meeting with the CDF in an effort to remove some of the logistical barriers which kept military pilots at arm's length during the wildfires last October.

CDF chief Charles Maner said, "It's actually been talked about before and it's never gone anywhere. It's funding issues. It's getting the law changed. If you pull up old studies, it's been talked about since 1970."

While federal law still has to be changed, and other issues remain, Maner said at this point there doesn't seem to be an obstacle large enough to stop the process and have military pilots certified by this summer.