SWEDEN IS LOOKING for two water bombers - probably Canadair CL-215s or CL-215Ts - to combat forest fires between May and the end of August. The move follows a feasibility study, which also examined possible alternative uses for the aircraft, including Coast Guard activity and joint operations with neighbouring countries.
The country's search-and-rescue organisation and the Coast Guard have set up a joint project group to run the trial operation. Although its primary purpose will be fire fighting, the Coast Guard will also test alternative uses within its sphere of operation.
If the results are satisfactory, another two aircraft will be leased in 1996. The project will then be terminated and a decision taken on future strategy.
The aircraft will be based at Skavsta Flygplats, Nykoping. Tenderers for the 1995 task will have to be prepared to compete for a similar two-aircraft operation the following year.
The Swedish initiative follows a trial of two CL-215Ts managed by the Los Angeles County Fire Department in the 1994 fire season. The purpose of the trial was to evaluate response times, the realities of integration with surface appliances and overall fire fighting effectiveness.
Because of moderate fire conditions, no conclusions were reached and the Department has recommended a further trial this year.
Italy's Canadair CL-415 water bombers, meanwhile, have been used for the first time to fight fires. On the first two missions, in late March, the turboprop CL-415 proved to be more productive, than the Mediterranean Air Service's existing piston powered CL-215s.
Bombardier released the information in the aftermath of a French Ministry of Interior decision to reject acceptance of the first of 12 CL-415s on order because of difficulties with the aircraft's water-drop system (Flight International, 29 March-4 April).
The crew of a CL-415, fighting a fire near Genoa on 21 March, completed eight drops in 1h, while 15 drops in 3h were made from the accompanying CL-215, which followed the same circuit between sea and fire. The following day, fighting a fire north-east of Milan, the crew of the CL-415 completed 24 drops in 1h; and that of the CL-215 achieved 15 drops in 2h 15min. The water source was an adjacent lake.
Bombardier quotes Air Service pilots as attributing the CL-415's greater productivity to its faster climb rate and increased water-tank capacity. Italy received two CL-415s in January and will shortly take delivery of the remaining pair, the manufacturer says.
Source: Flight International
