Is the Canadair CL 415 an adequate weapon in the wildfire battle?
Simple Flying has published a long, detailed article that demonstrates that the CL-415 a/k/a the SUPER SCOUPER is THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WATERBOMBER. It is but one of a fleet of aircraft used in North America, but many of them are old and/or modified from military use and/ limited in number.
The scourge of wildfires on a global basis has been a frequent topic here:
- Aviation’s positive role in the battle to save the planet
- Secretary and Administrator (D) please make aviation a positive force to quench wildfires ASAP
- Two Aerial Attack Paths for Wildfires
- USFS should delegate aerial supervisors to fight wild fires?
The theme among these posts is that there is a substantial risk of increasing damage from these conflagrations. A frequent observation has been the need for new, more sophisticated firefighting aircraft. There is a recent report on New-Generation Aircraft In Development For Aerial Firefighting Mission.
The Simple Flying paper makes a good case that the Super Scooper is more than adequate; just maybe more of them?
Simple Flying published 02/22/2025
The Canadair CL-415, which has also been referred to as the Super Scooper and the Bombardier 415, is an amphibious aircraft originally designed by Canadair but later manufactured by Bombardier and De Havilland Canada. The aircraft, alongside its successor the De Havilland Canada DHC-515, were both based on the earlier Canadair CL-215 and were originally designed for aerial firefighting, although the planes have been deployed for other roles such as transport and search and rescue (SAR).
The development of this dynamic aircraft began back in the early 1990s, shortly following the success of a program from the manufacturer that retrofitted several CL-215T aircraft, as a result of the proven demand for an upgraded version of the CL-215. The CL-415 entered production in 2003, with improved engines and several other modernization efforts that helped improve the aircraft’s performance and capabilities. Most notably, the aircraft’s aerodynamics were improved to increase fuel efficiency and the cockpit was modernized to include state-of-the-art avionics.
By the time the aircraft’s production was ended by Bombardier, 95 CL-415 aircraft had been produced, according to documents from the manufacturer. In October 2016, the CL-415 program was acquired by manufacturer Viking Air, which quickly sought to produce the updated CL-515 variant, which was produced in Victoria, British Columbia, and Calgary with the assistance of De Havilland Canada.
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Throughout its years of service, the aircraft has proven itself to be AN INCREDIBLY CAPABLE WATERBOMBER, providing essential services during many wildfire control efforts. In this article, we will take a deeper look at the story of the CL-415, and explore what specifically sets this dynamic aircraft apart from other waterbombers. Here are five features of the Canadair CL-415 that have contributed to its long-term success.
The aircraft offers ambiguous capabilities
The plane can operate on both land and water
The CL-415 is noteworthy because of its unique amphibious design, which means that it can land both on water and on conventional runways. This makes the aircraft extremely versatile. When conducting firefighting operations, the aircraft can quickly land on water and refill its tanks, and when the plane needs to undergo maintenance or fill its tanks with fire-retardant chemicals, it can easily touch down on conventional runways. The aircraft has a reinforced hull which is optimized for water landings and has retractable landing gear, which can be used for conventional landings. …This significantly reduces the aircraft’s turnaround time, and this also enables it to drop more water on wildfires during a given period than most conventional waterbombers. The aircraft can also land on rough water surfaces, given its all-weather capabilities.
Photo: Heather Lucia Snow | Shutterstock
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An advanced water scooping system
The aircraft can scoop up water faster than many other waterbombers
The Canadair CL-415 has an EXTREMELY ADVANCED WATER SCOOPING SYSTEM, one that is designed to maximize efficiency, something crucial for high-stakes aerial firefighting operations. The plane can scoop up MORE THAN 1,600 GALLONS of water IN JUST 12 SECONDS after a brief 410-METER WATER RUN at an impressive SPEED OF 70 KNOTS. This scooping capability allows the aircraft to perform dozens of water drops within a single mission.
As a result, the Canadair CL-415 has become one of the most dynamic firefighters in the skies today. The plane’s systems also allow the plane to mix chemical fire retardants with water, meaning that it can deploy traditional, hybrid, and chemical-based firefighting techniques, according to Flight International. Pilots are also able to use several different dispersal systems for the aircraft’s payloads, something which allows firefighters to carefully tailor their drops to the needs of each specific situation…
Incredibly capable turboprop engines
The aircraft has some impressive performance capabilities
The Canadair CL-415 is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprop engines, each of which is capable of offering up to 2,380 horsepower. These engines are capable of providing several advantages over the aircraft’s piston-engine successors. This power allows the aircraft to carry heavier loads and thus improves its effectiveness in combating wildfires. The turboprop engines offer faster climb rates, something essential for quick water pickups that allow the aircraft to spend minimal time not at firefighting altitudes.
The engines’ reliability and durability are both crucial elements of firefighting operations in remote regions of countries like Canada, where maintenance facilities are few and far between. Furthermore, these capable engines are mounted near the fuselage, reducing aerodynamic drag and improving flight stability. This makes the aircraft easier to fly, something which allows pilots to focus more on firefighting efforts.
Stock Code
BBDB
Business Type
Planemaker
Date Founded
July 10, 1942
CEO
Éric Martel
Headquarters Location
Dorval, Canada
The aircraft has exceptional lateral stability as well, thanks to winglets and an inverted fixed leading-edge slat, something that allows for precise maneuvering around fires during low-level flight, something necessary in smoky conditions. The plane’s turboprop engines ensure that the plane can offer better fuel efficiency and a longer range than its predecessors, making sure that it can operate in large areas and remain at a fire for longer periods. These engines are a key element of why the plane is a highly capable waterbomber.
Corrosion-resistant construction
The aircraft was built with advanced materials
The Canadair CL-415, like most capable waterbombers, frequently operates in saltwater environments, something which requires it to be built with advanced corrosion-resistant materials. The aircraft was built with aluminum alloys, which are both corrosion-resistant and lightweight. Using these materials in its construction offers the Canadair CL-415 exceptional operational durability, reducing maintenance costs and the number of shop visits that the aircraft requires.
The plane’s fuselage, wings, and other structural elements have also been designed to resist corrosion from saltwater exposure in mind, with many critical elements being treated with special coatings. These design choices have ensured that the CL-415’s operational lifespan is longer than many of its competitors, and they reduce the overall cost of maintaining the aircraft, making it a common choice for firefighting organizations with limited resources.
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The aircraft’s design also minimizes unwanted water ingress, preventing internal elements from corrosion as well, making sure that the aircraft can operate safely in coastal environments and under rough water conditions where water might enter spaces that would not be completely sealed. As a result, the aircraft is optimized for firefighting missions under almost any conditions, including those that are unpredictable, making it a favorite of firefighting agencies across the world due to its ability to deliver sustained performance.
The aircraft offers unparalleled versatility
The CL-415 has an advanced and customizable firefighting system
As previously mentioned, the CL-415 is capable of dynamic firefighting operations, thanks to a system controlled by a central water status panel that provides real-time information on water levels and chemical combinations that may be deployed to fight fires. Pilots can use different techniques, such as direct drops, segmented drops, and salvo releases to help slow down a fire, even one that may be moving in unpredictable ways.
This flexibility has meant that the aircraft can be effective even when traditional waterbombing techniques are no longer working. The aircraft is also kept with emergency measures to be used in some of the most critical situations, such as the emergency dump lever. Pulling this lever will immediately release the aircraft’s entire load, something that can be used in the most dire of situations. Furthermore, the aircraft’s integrated flight management systems mean that dropping large loads at once does not compromise the plane’s stability.
