CL-415EAF COMMERCIAL
http://www.airinternational.com | 53Two examples of this variant serve with the
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
undertaking surveillance and SAR missions,
with the aircraft equipped with a side-looking
airborne radar, radio direction fi nder, an
electro-optical/infrared sensor, an automatic
identifi cation system, digital data and video
recording and a high-speed satellite data link.
Mauracher feels this type of fl exibility is a
potential area for future business for Viking
now it is managing the CL-415. He said:
“We’re fi nding operators don’t just want to
use an asset for fi refi ghting, but for other jobs
during the year or during the [fi re] season
when they’re not required. That’s where the
avionics suite becomes important; those
things change the dynamic of the aircraft.”
To this end, the CL-415EAF is being pitched
as an aircraft that can also carry specialist
role equipment and therefore be re-tasked
for other special missions. For example,
the aircraft will have a large cargo door for
transport missions and a stretcher rack for
emergency medical services, and the ability to
carry a spray boom system for insect and oil
pollution control work.
Mauracher said the intention is to open
the CL-415EAF to new markets. Using new
components to reduce maintenance and
training costs is important in this regard.
Adding improvements to an established
platform is meant to appeal to operators in
secondary markets that can’t a ord an all-
new next-generation aircraft and the costs
associated with it.
Like Viking’s other amphibious aircraft,
the CL-415EAF will be supported by the
company’s Maintenance Plus programme,
which supplies operators with components
at a fi xed monthly/yearly fee plus a fi xed rate
per fl ight hour. The objectives are to provide
customers with a good availability rate from
the very start of operations, guarantee spares
availability, provide better maintenance
planning and predictable cost of spares, and
eliminate annual fl uctuations in the level of
maintenance expenditure.
Viking says Maintenance Plus provides
reduced aircraft operating costs, assurances
for operators over the cost of parts
consumption, advance awareness of parts
maintenance, increased buying power by
consolidating operators’ parts forecasts
to obtain the best possible prices, and a
unique maintenance plan compiled from the
collective knowledge of all customers.Towards a new fi refi ghter
The conversion of the 11 aircraft into CL-
415EAFs will establish a new production
standard and in so doing reactivate the
supply chain. In turn, this will establish a
footing for Viking to take the next step in its
aerial fi refi ghter programme: the proposed
production of a new-generation amphibious
aerial fi refi ghter called the CL-515.
Mauracher said: “The CL-415EAF is a bridge
to new production. The CL-415 airframe will
be the basis, but we will make signifi cant
enhancements. We’ll be incorporating
solutions for obsolescence issues. We’ll
introduce the new avionics, increased
weights, a revised maintenance programme,
and optional feature improvements including
de-ice systems, additional seating, increased
fuel capacity, etc.”
It is important to note Viking hasn’t yet made
a fi nal decision about developing a CL-515,
but Mauracher said the company is “putting
together the funding package”. Viking has
applied for support from Innovation, Science
and Economic Development Canada, a federal
institution that leads 17 departments andmanages a Strategic Innovation Fund.
Mauracher said: “If we get the ‘go’ decision
from our board, we’ll make a launch decision
sometime in the fourth quarter of this year. If
you look at a normal production ramp-up I
would say realistically we’d likely be looking at
delivering our fi rst aircraft in 2023.”
If Viking does launch the CL-515, the
programme would mirror what the company
has done with the Twin Otter. Viking
acquired the type certifi cate for the small
utility turboprop in 2006 and the following
year launched the Twin Otter Series 400,
a new production standard for the aircraft.
Mauracher said: “If you look at the Twin Otter,
there are around 800 changes from the Series
300 to the Series 400. The same kind of thing
is going to happen [on the fi refi ghter].”
Viking believes there is big potential for the
CL-515. Mauracher said: “We’re not just going
to be doing one or two aircraft, we’re looking
to build a ten-year run of low build rates of
approximately four or fi ve aircraft a year. It
depends on what’s required by our customers,
[but] we’re not looking to just build fi ve aircraft
and stop the line again.”
He said: “Every other aerial fi refi ghter
is a modifi cation through supplemental
type certifi cates. This is the only aircraft
specifi cally designed for the aerial fi refi ghter
job. It’s robust, it’s very e cient, it’s a
workhorse.” AICL-415 Enhanced Aerial Firefi ghter characteristics
Wingspan 28.6m (93ft 8in)
Length 19.82m (65ft)
Height 8.92m (29ft 2in)
Max take-o weight 19,731kg (43,499lb) disposable load
Water tank capacity 1,550-1,600 US gallons (5,678-6,056 litres)
Take-o distance on land 2,598ft (792m)
Take-o distance on water 2,529ft (771m)
Landing distance on land 2,500ft (762m)
Landing distance on water 2,749ft (838m)
Crew Tw o
Cabin volume 35.5m^3 (1,253ft^3 )
Ferry range 1,310 nautical miles
Speed 190kts
Engines Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprops, generating 2,380shp (1,775kW) each