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Newfoundland buys new waterbombers
Oct. 28, 2009 - The government of Newfoundland and Labrador has purchased four Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft to replace part of its aging aerial fire fighting fleet.
October 28, 2009 By Carey Fredericks
Based on the list price,
the contract with Bombardier is valued at about US$120 million and includes
aircraft modifications, spare parts provisioning, training and technical
support. Deliveries of the aircraft will begin during the second quarter of
2010 and will continue through 2011.
The province’s Department
of Transportation and Works operates six CL-215 aircraft. With this order, a
portion of its aging fleet will be replaced with four of the world's most
efficient fire fighting machines: the Bombardier 415 aircraft.
"Our agreement with
Bombardier for the purchase of new Bombardier 415 waterbomber aircraft will
allow us to replace some of the aging aircraft in our existing fleet with
state-of-the-art, modern aircraft that will enhance our forest fire suppression
capabilities," said the Hon. Tom Marshall, acting minister of transportation
and works for the government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Bombardier 415
firefighter aircraft has a maximum speed of 224 mph (359 km/h) under certain
conditions. In an average mission of six nautical miles (11 kilometres)
distance from water to fire, it can complete nine drops within an hour and
deliver 14,589 U.S. gallons (55,233 litres) of fire suppressant.
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