Aviation and Airlines (Commonwealth Union) _ Conair, a British Columbia-based aerial firefighting group, has recently made a significant purchase of aircraft to bolster its firefighting capabilities. The company, known for operating the world’s largest fleet of fixed-wing firefighting aircraft, announced the acquisition of seven new De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft. These planes will be converted into air tankers before delivery and used for aerial firefighting purposes.
The purchase was made from Kirk Aviation, a European-based company, and the aircraft will be ferried to Canada. Upon arrival, they will undergo conversion to the air tanker configuration in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Conair expects this conversion process to take place during the upcoming winter.
This move comes as wildfires and their behavior are becoming increasingly challenging to manage globally. The new aircraft will support various countries in adapting to changing wildfire environments by providing modern and capable aerial firefighting resources.
Conair’s fleet expansion isn’t new; in 2021, the company acquired eleven Dash 8-400 aircraft to replace its aging fleet of air tankers and enhance firefighting capabilities. These aircraft are currently contracted to government agencies in different parts of the world.
The company’s President and CEO, Matt Bradley, emphasized the importance of having up-to-date firefighting resources in light of escalating wildfire threats. Jeff Berry, Conair’s VP of Business Development, also noted that these aircraft acquisitions offer countries a proactive way to strengthen their response capacity for future fire seasons.
Conair’s fleet includes a variety of aircraft, from air attack aircraft (bird dogs) used to clear air tanker paths, such as Cessna Caravans and Cessna Citation jets, to air tankers like Air Tractors and DHC Dash 8s, which drop retardant to contain wildfires. This fleet expansion underscores the company’s commitment to staying at the forefront of aerial firefighting technology and supporting firefighting efforts globally.
