Conair Group Inc., the operator of the largest fixed-wing fleet of firefighting aircraft in the world, announced the purchase of seven Dash 8-400 aircraft for conversion to airtankers, with specific engineering for aerial firefighting.
The purchase comes at a time when countries around the world are facing growing wildfire challenges and often find themselves with limited aerial firefighting resources or fleets in need of modernization. Matt Bradley, President and CEO of Conair, emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating that the supply of large, modern airtankers is limited. This new purchase, he says, enables Conair to assist countries in adapting to the changing wildfire environment, protecting both citizens and resources.
In 2021, Conair purchased eleven Dash 8-400 aircraft to replace their aging fleet of airtankers and to expand into new markets. By the end of 2023, all the aircraft from that initial purchase will be operating as airtankers, serving government agencies on three continents, including four in British Columbia, two in Alaska, one in Australia, one in France, and two in Washington state through Conair’s US-based subsidiary, Aero-Flite Inc.
The addition of seven more aircraft for conversion aims to provide countries with the ability to proactively build their response capacity for future fire seasons. Jeff Berry, Vice President of Business Development, highlighted that Conair will convert these aircraft over the next two years and sell the airtankers directly to governments, or provide long-term operational contracts through either Conair or Aero-Flite.
The Dash 8-400 aircraft were purchased in 2023 from Kirk Aviation through Aergo Capital Asset Management and were originally based in Europe. The aircraft are now stored in Mississauga, Canada, and will be converted in Abbotsford, British Columbia at Conair’s facility. The first conversion is scheduled for this winter.
With the ability to produce a new airtanker every 75 days, Conair’s latest purchase demonstrates a strategic effort to respond to the global need for advanced and efficient aerial firefighting resources.
Its fleet is comprised by aircraft adapted to differents missions: Avro RJ85, Dash-800-400, Air Tractor AT 802, CL415, Cessna Caravan C208B y Tubo Commander TC-690A.
