BOMBARDIER IS to modify its Canadair CL-415 water-bomber, following the refusal of French fire-fighting pilots to accept the first of 12 due for delivery.
French Ministry of the Interior crews are refusing to fly the aircraft and it is effectively grounded. The official delivery ceremony has been cancelled.
France is buying 12 examples of the CL-415 worth some $220 million, but the pilots say that the model's claimed improvements over the earlier CL-215 are not being realised. The French Direction de Securite Civile says that Canadair has been given six weeks to solve two problems.
They claim that the four doors controlling the water-drop system are not sealed tightly enough and allow water to leak before the aircraft reaches its target. The second problem relates to a chemical added by the French to the water as it enters the hold. Excessive water turbulence is creating a gel, which reduces the payload.
The aircraft is designed to take in 6,130kg of water on each scoop, 15% more than in earlier models - but, say the pilots, in practice it collects 450kg less than that. Even the additional amount gathered is largely lost through leakage, they insist.
Canadair describes the problem as a "minor imperfection", but has agreed to pay for modifications at an unrevealed cost.
The company has delivered two of four CL-415s to Italy - for which there were no complaints - and is due to deliver six more to France by June.
Source: Flight International
