CL-415EAF Enhanced Aerial Firefighter takes inaugural flight
Canadian companies Longview Aviation Services (LAS) and Viking Air Limited have announced the inaugural flight of the first Viking CL-415EAF Enhanced Aerial Firefighter
It is the first Canadair CL-215 to undergo the modification to CL-415EAF Enhanced Aerial Firefighter by LAS in collaboration with Cascade Aerospace.
The CL-415EAF is the first of six amphibious aerial firefighters that were ordered by launch customer Bridger Aerospace Group in Montana. The delivery is scheduled for April in advance of the 2020 North American wildfire season.
Don Boitson, Chief Operating Officer for LAS, said: “This is a significant milestone for the CL-415EAF Enhanced Aerial Firefighter program that wouldn’t have been possible without the focus, hard work and dedication of the entire team. With the conversion kit manufacturing support from Viking, the technical production expertise of Cascade, and the project management team at LAS, we have collaborated to produce the best-value amphibious firefighting aircraft available on the market today. I’m extremely proud of everyone who has contributed to make this program a success.”
The modification program was announced in 2018 and provides an economic boost in Western Canada through job creation, aerospace manufacturing innovation, supply chain development, academic partnerships, and global export opportunities.
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