CL-415EAF COMMERCIAL

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to replace the Wasps was launched in 1987

(first flight 1989, initial delivery 1991), with two

CL-215s converted to act as development and

demonstrator aircraft. However, a decision

was made not to continue with retrofit kits for

this aircraft as the market was favouring new-

builds. The new CL-415 was launched in 1991,

with the aircraft flying in December 1993 and

first delivery in November 1994.

According to Rob Mauracher, Viking

Executive Vice-President, Sales and

Marketing and Chief Operating Officer at

LAAM, there are now 160 CL-215/CL-215T/

CL-415-family aerial firefighters in service

worldwide. They are operational with either

air forces or parapublic organisations in

Canada, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy,

Malaysia, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Thailand,

Turkey and the United States.

Mauracher told AIR International the fleet

is nearing 750,000 flying hours and a total of

nearly 2.5 million water/retardant drops, with

the CL-215 on 330,000 hours and 900,000

drops, the CL-215T on 130,000 hours and

350,000 drops, and the CL-415 on 285,000

hours and 1.2 million drops.

He said: “This is a very robust platform. It’s

able to operate into high sea states and is built

for severe operating environments. Unlike a

lot of aircraft, the CL family do not have life

limits on the airframe. They are the only aerial

firefighters in the world with full OEM [original

equipment manufacturer] support, designed

specifically for aerial firefighting and working

in an amphibious environment.”

Enhanced Aerial Firefighter

The CL-415EAF is the next evolution of

Canada’s aerial firefighter. The programme is

a collaboration between Viking and its sister

company LAAM, a Calgary-based organisation

established in 2016 to provide financing, lease

options and trade-in capabilities for aircraft

supported and manufactured by Viking.

The CL-415EAF will introduce several

airframe and systems improvements.

Electrical, fuel, hydraulic and flight control

Canada’s firefighter

CL-215-6B11 (CL-415) I-DPCQ

(c/n 2021), is operated in Italy

by the Dipartimento della

Protezione Civile Italiana.

All photos Viking Air Limited