Conair delivers 27th Dash 8-400 firefighting aircraft

Conair Group, a private operator of fixed-wing firefighting aircraft, has delivered its 27th Dash 8-400 converted airtanker for wildfire suppression. Demand remains high, with every Dash 8-400AT (airtanker only) and Dash 8-400MRE (multi-role) purchased or contracted by government agencies as the aircraft are completed.

“Of those 27, we have converted and delivered 22 in the past five years alone, a testament to the strength of our engineering, production, maintenance, and supply chain teams,” said Michael Benson, Director of Business Development at Conair.

Land-based airtankers like the Dash 8-400 drop fire retardant around a wildfire’s perimeter, slowing combustion, while water scoopers skim lakes and rivers to cool flames. Together, the aircraft provide critical support to ground crews, particularly in Western North America and Europe, where wildfire conditions are increasingly challenging.

“We have been building the airtanker for 20 years,” Benson continued. “We began production in 2005 delivering the first multi-role airtanker to the French government, who now own and operate 8 Dash 8-400MRE airtankers, responding to a range of crises, with the airtanker converting between passenger, cargo, combi and medevac roles. They can evacuate citizens, ship supplies, transport patients, and reposition crews, plus fight wildfire. It is an aircraft that offers both civilian and defense benefits, for the safety and security of citizens.”

The Dash 8-400AT combines jet-like speed with fuel efficiency, short-runway capability, and powerful engines, making it a versatile and reliable tool for wildfire response.

Conair recently acquired two new Daher TBM 960 fixed-wing aircraft for use in aerial firefighting operations.