Alberta has allocated $400 million to enhance its firefighting capabilities by acquiring five new water bombers for its aging fleet in the coming years. The agreement with De Havilland Aircraft, based in Calgary, will result in the delivery of the first amphibious plane by 2031.
The Canadair DHC-515 aircraft has the ability to swiftly collect water from bodies of water, filling its 6,100-liter tank in approximately 12 seconds. Forestry Minister Todd Loewen highlighted the importance of expanding the fleet to ensure operational readiness as older planes reach retirement age.
Premier Danielle Smith clarified that the funding for the new planes is separate from the annual $160 million budget allocated for wildfire response in the province. Alberta has witnessed over 1,000 average annual wildfire starts in the past decade, ranking second in Canada after British Columbia.
Currently, the province has 18 air tankers available for wildfire response, with four being owned and contracted by Alberta. These four aircraft were manufactured between 1986 and 1988. Despite the remaining lifespan of the aging planes, the government aims to proactively strengthen the fleet without waiting for their retirement.
The procurement of the new water bombers is anticipated to generate around 1,000 jobs and enhance the existing fleet’s capabilities. De Havilland Canada’s CEO, Brian Chafe, expressed gratitude for the significant order and emphasized the positive relationship with the province.
De Havilland introduced the DHC-515 in March 2022, reserving 22 aircraft for European clients. Manitoba had also expressed interest in acquiring three of the same aircraft. The company stated that the DHC-515 is tailored to address the evolving operational demands faced by aerial firefighters, particularly in the context of climate change-driven longer and more severe wildfire seasons.