REGINA – A new tool for fighting wildfires was on display today at the Regina Airport.
As the province hits wildfire season, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency added a CL-215T air tanker to the fleet, which officially replaces the obsolete CL-215 fleet.
“What arrived in our hangars - a CL-215 about a year ago - arrives here today as a CL-215T,” said Al Young, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Vice President - Technical Services. “Let me tell ya, there was a lot of work putting the “T” on the end of that 215!”
He explained how 85,000 hours of work went into refurbishing the aircraft, with many systems replaced, and features like the tail fins added to increase aerodynamics.
“With every new rivet, we recognize we are building a plane with purpose,” Young said.
This is the sixth air tanker in the SPSA’s aerial wildfire fleet, and Marlo Pritchard - SPSA President and Fire Commissioner - explained how the fleet attacks a wildfire. Typically, the tankers fly in pairs, who are then guided by the bird dog aircraft.
“Once in position, a crew of up to five pilots, two aircraft maintenance engineers and one air attack officer work together to direct and guide air traffic and ensure that suppression material is released on the designated area that will have the greatest effect,” Pritchard said, noting that last year, the crew flew more than 700 hours. “Our fleet is a well-used resource.”
Dignitaries and media were gathered at the airport, marvelling at the new addition and enjoying a rare chance for an up-close inspection of the aircraft. Tankers and bird-dog planes play an important role in wildfire and grass-fire suppression - especially in getting to places firefighters either physically can’t reach, or would be too dangerous.
"Aircrafts play an important role in Saskatchewan's wildfire management program," SPSA President and Fire Commissioner Marlo Pritchard said. "With the 2023 wildfire season just beginning, an expansion of the fleet means that wildfire responders and resources will be strengthened when protecting our province, especially in the north."
The CL-215T can collect 1,200 gallons of water in approximately 10 second, reaching speeds of around 330 km/hr. For perspective, the trip from La Range to Regina this morning took around two hours to complete.
“Every year, Saskatchewan faces hundreds of wildfires stemming from both human and natural causes,” said Christine Tell, Minister of Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety. “In 2022, we had nearly 450 wildfires in our province.”
She also spoke of the provincial government’s financial investment to the SPSA.
"Our government's strategic investment into our air operations protects the people, property and resources of Saskatchewan," Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell said. "The investment of $37.3 million will allow our responders to better protect, lives, communities, major infrastructure and other values.”
As the CL-215T took to the cloudless sky after the media conference, Tell’s initial words of greeting came to mind.
“It’s a great day in Saskatchewan!”
