The only large airtanker currently being manufactured and delivered at this pace in the world today.
ABBOTSFORD, CANADA (December 19, 2024) – Conair Group Inc. (Conair) is excited to announce that the company has now converted 20 Dash 8-400 aircraft into aerial firefighters to fight wildfires, with 15 converted and delivered in the last four years alone. This production rate is unmatched around the world by producers of large land-based airtankers or large water scooping aircraft. Demand for the aircraft is strong, with all Dash 8-400AT and Dash 8-400MRE, the multi role variant, being purchased or placed on long term contract by government agencies as the aircraft is completed.
“We have been building the airtanker for nearly 20 years,” shares Michael Benson, Director, Business Development at Conair. “We began production in 2005 delivering the first multi role airtanker to the French Government. Since then, year over year we have steadily built and deployed these modern airtankers, in both the multi role and airtanker-only capacity, building our customers’ response ability and modernizing aging firefighting fleets, ensuring the emergency aircraft is ready to respond when needed and not grounded due to repair, lack of parts or obsolescence. In the last four years, we have seen demand surge, driven by increasing numbers of wildfires and fires that are more extreme. Jurisdictions that needed to complement their current fleet with a new tool, are doing so. And agencies that haven’t yet secured a fleet of their own aircraft, are making inquiries.”
France owns and operates eight Dash 8-400MRE, the world’s first multi role large airtanker, heading into its 20th year of operation. Capable of transporting passengers, cargo and critically ill patients, the fleet deploys to fight wildfires plus responds to crises, shipping critical supplies and teams during periods of war or natural disaster. Saskatchewan ordered two Dash 8-400MRE in 2024, along with two Dash 8-400AT, the first of which will be delivered for the 2025 fire season. Australia, Alaska, Washington, British Columbia, and Alberta have all added Dash 8-400AT to their response capability.
“In 2025 we plan to deliver three additional Dash 8 airtankers for the fire season” adds Bertrand Lamaison, Director, Engineering & Customer Support. “It takes a long time to engineer, build, certify and deliver a new airtanker type. We have gone through that period of development and have streamlined our processes to maximize our production efficiency. The Dash offers decades of proven operational capability, plus advanced technologies that improve safety and effectiveness.”
“We see the Dash as a solution for government agencies who are looking to bridge the gap between immediate need and delivery of their CL515 orders in the future, mitigating risk while adding another response capability to their arsenal, that being retardant” continues Benson. “Water and retardant work together on extreme fires, each performing its own role. Water cools flames, requiring a continuous rotation of drops to get ahead of evaporation, while retardant is placed once around the perimeter of the fire to slow its progression, coating the vegetation to be effective even after its water has evaporated. Water scoopers and land-based airtankers are a comprehensive and efficient team and have been used together for decades by agencies prone to fire, such as in Canada and the US.”
Conair manufactures aerial firefighting aircraft by converting commercial aircraft into airtankers. These airtankers are sold to governments or placed on long-term operational contract. Conair also owns and operates their own diverse fleet of aerial firefighting aircraft, the largest fixed-wing fleet in the world, including CL415 water scoopers, Fire Boss water scoopers, Dash 8-400AT airtankers, RJ85 airtankers, and AT802 airtankers, plus command and control bird dog lead planes.
About Conair Group Inc.
Headquartered in Canada, Conair is a world leader in emergency response aircraft production and operations, delivering a range of aerial firefighting and multi-role aircraft and services globally. Founded in Canada over 55 years ago, Conair manufactures special mission aircraft converted from commercial planes, with more than 200 aircraft modified to date. Conair also maintains, crews and operates a fleet of 70 aerial firefighting aircraft, the largest, privately owned, fixed-wing fleet in the world. Conair’s operations are global, supporting missions in North America, Europe, Australia and beyond. Conair can provide aircraft for purchase, lease or under contract and offers specialized services including aeronautical engineering design, flight operations and aircraft maintenance.
Learn out more at www.conair.ca
