Aero-Flite expands fleet with additional large airtanker

Aero-Flite has increased its aerial firefighting capacity to suppress wildfires with the addition of another Dash 8-400AT airtanker. This is the third Dash 8-400AT airtanker added to Aero-Flite’s fleet. The organization’s next-generation fleet now includes four CL415 amphibious airtankers, seven RJ85 Type 1 airtankers and the three Dash 8-400AT Type 2 airtankers.

As a Type 2 large airtanker, the Dash 8-400AT has a tank capacity of 2,462gal. Chris Niemann, Aero-Flite General Manager, commented: “The Dash offers a large payload, just shy of the 3,000 US gallon tank capacity of a Type 1 large airtanker, while using significantly less fuel than a similarly sized Type 1. It can land at bases with shorter runways, and at higher elevations, allowing firefighting support access to more locations, basing closer to remote communities that are more prone to wildfire activity.

“Our Dash 8-400AT aircraft are the newest additions to our fleet,” he continued. “Two of the Dash 8-400AT arrived in 2022 and are contracted to Washington State. Our third Dash 8-400AT arrived at the end of April and will be available to other agencies to support firefighters throughout the country. We plan to continue expanding our fleet with additional aircraft in the future to help state and federal agencies as they work to increase their capacity to respond to wildfires.”

Aero-Flite will perform heavy maintenance on its expanded fleet during the winter months in its Spokane, Washington, hangars and at its newly acquired facility in Chico, California.