New aerial firefighters for France
On 1 November 2022, the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, announced that the existing fleet of twelve CL-415 Super Scoopers will be replaced with sixteen new aircraft. According to the president, delivery of the new aircraft will be finished before the end of his term in 2027.
Without naming the exact type of the new aircraft, it will definitely be the DeHavilland Canada DHC-515 Firefighter. On 31 March 2022, Viking Air (marketed by DeHavilland Aircraft of Canada Limited) decided to go ahead with their DHC-515 programme after European customers signed letters of intent to purchase the first 22 aircraft. The first of these is expected to be delivered by 2025 and the final one around 2030. Other potential customers will then have ample time to consider renewing their existing fleets or proceed with new acquisitions.
When Viking Air acquired the CL-415 programme from Bombardier (previously Canadair) in October 2016, they aimed to produce an updated CL-515, since renamed the DHC-515 Firefighter. The amphibious aircraft will be produced in a new facility east of Calgary, Alberta. The new facility will also produce the DHC-6 Twin Otter and the Dash 8-400 (Q400) and will employ 1,500 workers.
Meanwhile, Viking Air is also upgrading old Canadair aircraft to the CL-415 EAF (Enhanced Aerial Firefighter) standard for various customers. Due to be delivered to Morocco in 2022, three CL-215s are currently undergoing such a makeover. In addition, Greece has indicated its intention to modernize its current fleet of Bombardier CL-415 aircraft to the EAF standard.
Photo via DeHavilland Aircraft of Canada Limited