“Yes, we need more Canadairs.” The amphibious, Canadian-built waterbombing plane has set the gold standard for aerial firefighting for decades. But despite its reputation as a “proven tool” among fire experts, low demand kept the plane out of production for nearly a decade. Now, amid expanding fire seasons exacerbated by climate change, countries like France are lining up to replace their aging fleets after Canadair manufacturer De Havilland announced that it will restart production with an updated design called the DHC-515. Some, however, worry that the 22 planes destined for Europe by the end of the decade may be too little, too late.
Canadian innovation
First built in the 1960s, the original Canadair CL-215 firefighting plane was designed to fight massive wildfires in the Canadian wilderness. Its unique amphibious design and low-speed control allowed it to navigate narrow canyons at low altitude, collecting thousands of liters of water directly from lakes and oceans in seconds. Plans to begin production of the DHC-515 in 2020 stalled when the pandemic “realigned … priorities away from longer-range thinking” and sapped demand from governments, says Neil Sweeney, vice-president of corporate affairs at De Havilland Canada. (De Havilland) In the decades since, the planes have become iconic for their nearly unbreakable design. Of the original 220 planes built before 1995, nearly 170 are still in use, according to Neil Sweeney, vice-president of corporate affairs for De Havilland Canada. But an updated plane almost never made it to production. Rights to the Canadair design have bounced around between companies over the past decade. Plans to begin production of the DHC-515 in 2020 stalled when the pandemic “refocused … priorities away from longer-range thinking” and sapped demand from governments, according to Sweeney. “It takes a lot to build a production line, and to do that, you need orders from prospective customers,” he said. Now, after nearly a decade of waiting, Sweeney said, “the EU has stepped up to the plate.”
Aging fleets
As many European governments shifted their focus from the pandemic to recovery this spring, they faced an impending fire season that many expected to be historic. Climate change is turning the continent into a warmer, drier place. Scientists say drought is still ravaging Europe unparalleled in the last 500 years. As a result, fires occur larger and more common in countries, such as Germany, with limited experience of them. WATCHES | Europe is warming faster than the rest of the world, climate expert says:
Europe is warming faster than much of the world, climate scientist says
The heat wave gripping much of Europe and the UK is due to global warming, says climatologist Vikki Thompson, and this “accelerating trend” in heat waves will continue unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Last year’s fires in Greece were nearly six times larger than at any other time in the last decade. But the Hellenic Air Force is fighting the fires with a fleet of CL-215s that have been in service since the 1970s. “Many of the parts are very hard to find, so we may have long delays in repairing some of the damage,” said Minister Col. Antonios Vourvoulis told the Greek daily I Kathimerini in 2018. “It’s a daily struggle.” The sorry state of France’s 12 CL-415s was partly accused for the magnitude of the devastation caused by the historic fires in Bordeaux, which forced the evacuation of thousands. But France is still better off than those countries that have no water bombers at all — like the Czech Republic, which had to borrow planes from Italy to fight a massive wildfire on its border with Germany this summer.
“Voluntary solidarity”
Loans of this kind are acts of “voluntary solidarity”, according to Balazs Ujvari, European Commission spokesman for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. But as worsening wildfires strain resources, leaders across the continent are looking for more permanent solutions. “This is something that will happen more and more often, and it is very clear that member states will not always be able to handle these things alone,” Ujvari said. A wildfire burns near Landiras, in France’s Gironde region, in July 2022. (SDIS 33/Reuters) This is one reason the European Union is planning to develop its own stockpile of firefighting aircraft. As of 2019, a program called RescEU has directed 13 firefighting aircraft, including new Canadair models, to where they are needed most. This year, six were sent to France, along with more than 400 staff and 100 vehicles — the Commission’s biggest operation to date. At present, these resources are still borrowed from other Member States. But “by the end of the decade, the goal is to double those capacities and buy … aircraft using EU funds,” Ujvari said. NATO has also stepped up to help. Through NATO Support and Supply Agency (NSPA), member states can use the alliance as an intermediary to negotiate contracts for firefighting resources from allies and the private sector. This summer, the alliance deployed a record 40 aircraft in support of Greece, including 11 firefighting planes. Stacey Cummings, NSPA director general, said she expects competition for these resources to increase as the effects of climate change worsen. “I can only see there being more demand for limited capacity going forward,” he said.
“Better not need them”
As countries compete for a shrinking stockpile of planes, news earlier this year that De Havilland would equip the assembly line in Calgary was received with relief. “When I saw the news a few weeks ago that Canadair was coming back to the market, I felt really good,” said Alexander Held, a fire expert at the European Forest Institute. “Canadair is a proven tool. It was really sad to see it discontinued.” The restart was made possible by a letter of intent signed in March, under which 22 planes will be delivered to European governments by 2029. But while the new Canadairs are sorely needed, fire experts like Held stress they’re only part of the solution — and they may not come fast enough. “It just shows a long-term failed fire management policy,” Held said. “For all the joy that this aircraft is returning, we have to remember that it would be better if we didn’t need them.” Firefighters put out flames from a burning house in Afidnes district, north of Athens, Greece, in August 2021. (Milos Bicanski/Getty Images) Held said alongside the millions of euros spent on water-bombing planes, countries should budget more for fire prevention programs, such as supporting land managers and herders to control fuel and offering training in techniques such as dry firefighting, which do not require the use of heavy water. “Everybody knows you have to invest in other parts of fire management. Nobody ever does,” Held said. “It’s treating the symptoms, not the causes.” De Havilland’s Sweeney says the new planes will add strength to Europe’s firefighting fleet for decades to come, promising the DHC-515 will be just as indestructible as the planes that came before it. “You might argue that from a business case, [making long-lasting planes] it makes less sense,” he said. “But it’s really a point of pride for our company and our country.”
title: “How An Aging Canadair Fleet Is Keeping Europe S Fires At Bay Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-25” author: “Daniel Endicott”
“Yes, we need more Canadairs.” The amphibious, Canadian-built waterbombing plane has set the gold standard for aerial firefighting for decades. But despite its reputation as a “proven tool” among fire experts, low demand kept the plane out of production for nearly a decade. Now, amid expanding fire seasons exacerbated by climate change, countries like France are lining up to replace their aging fleets after Canadair manufacturer De Havilland announced that it will restart production with an updated design called the DHC-515. Some, however, worry that the 22 planes destined for Europe by the end of the decade may be too little, too late.
Canadian innovation
First built in the 1960s, the original Canadair CL-215 firefighting plane was designed to fight massive wildfires in the Canadian wilderness. Its unique amphibious design and low-speed control allowed it to navigate narrow canyons at low altitude, collecting thousands of liters of water directly from lakes and oceans in seconds. Plans to begin production of the DHC-515 in 2020 stalled when the pandemic “realigned … priorities away from longer-range thinking” and sapped demand from governments, says Neil Sweeney, vice-president of corporate affairs at De Havilland Canada. (De Havilland) In the decades since, the planes have become iconic for their nearly unbreakable design. Of the original 220 planes built before 1995, nearly 170 are still in use, according to Neil Sweeney, vice-president of corporate affairs for De Havilland Canada. But an updated plane almost never made it to production. Rights to the Canadair design have bounced around between companies over the past decade. Plans to begin production of the DHC-515 in 2020 stalled when the pandemic “refocused … priorities away from longer-range thinking” and sapped demand from governments, according to Sweeney. “It takes a lot to build a production line, and to do that, you need orders from prospective customers,” he said. Now, after nearly a decade of waiting, Sweeney said, “the EU has stepped up to the plate.”
Aging fleets
As many European governments shifted their focus from the pandemic to recovery this spring, they faced an impending fire season that many expected to be historic. Climate change is turning the continent into a warmer, drier place. Scientists say drought is still ravaging Europe unparalleled in the last 500 years. As a result, fires occur larger and more common in countries, such as Germany, with limited experience of them. WATCHES | Europe is warming faster than the rest of the world, climate expert says:
Europe is warming faster than much of the world, climate scientist says
The heat wave gripping much of Europe and the UK is due to global warming, says climatologist Vikki Thompson, and this “accelerating trend” in heat waves will continue unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Last year’s fires in Greece were nearly six times larger than at any other time in the last decade. But the Hellenic Air Force is fighting the fires with a fleet of CL-215s that have been in service since the 1970s. “Many of the parts are very hard to find, so we may have long delays in repairing some of the damage,” said Minister Col. Antonios Vourvoulis told the Greek daily I Kathimerini in 2018. “It’s a daily struggle.” The sorry state of France’s 12 CL-415s was partly accused for the magnitude of the devastation caused by the historic fires in Bordeaux, which forced the evacuation of thousands. But France is still better off than those countries that have no water bombers at all — like the Czech Republic, which had to borrow planes from Italy to fight a massive wildfire on its border with Germany this summer.
“Voluntary solidarity”
Loans of this kind are acts of “voluntary solidarity”, according to Balazs Ujvari, European Commission spokesman for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. But as worsening wildfires strain resources, leaders across the continent are looking for more permanent solutions. “This is something that will happen more and more often, and it is very clear that member states will not always be able to handle these things alone,” Ujvari said. A wildfire burns near Landiras, in France’s Gironde region, in July 2022. (SDIS 33/Reuters) This is one reason the European Union is planning to develop its own stockpile of firefighting aircraft. As of 2019, a program called RescEU has directed 13 firefighting aircraft, including new Canadair models, to where they are needed most. This year, six were sent to France, along with more than 400 staff and 100 vehicles — the Commission’s biggest operation to date. At present, these resources are still borrowed from other Member States. But “by the end of the decade, the goal is to double those capacities and buy … aircraft using EU funds,” Ujvari said. NATO has also stepped up to help. Through NATO Support and Supply Agency (NSPA), member states can use the alliance as an intermediary to negotiate contracts for firefighting resources from allies and the private sector. This summer, the alliance deployed a record 40 aircraft in support of Greece, including 11 firefighting planes. Stacey Cummings, NSPA director general, said she expects competition for these resources to increase as the effects of climate change worsen. “I can only see there being more demand for limited capacity going forward,” he said.
“Better not need them”
As countries compete for a shrinking stockpile of planes, news earlier this year that De Havilland would equip the assembly line in Calgary was received with relief. “When I saw the news a few weeks ago that Canadair was coming back to the market, I felt really good,” said Alexander Held, a fire expert at the European Forest Institute. “Canadair is a proven tool. It was really sad to see it discontinued.” The restart was made possible by a letter of intent signed in March, under which 22 planes will be delivered to European governments by 2029. But while the new Canadairs are sorely needed, fire experts like Held stress they’re only part of the solution — and they may not come fast enough. “It just shows a long-term failed fire management policy,” Held said. “For all the joy that this aircraft is returning, we have to remember that it would be better if we didn’t need them.” Firefighters put out flames from a burning house in Afidnes district, north of Athens, Greece, in August 2021. (Milos Bicanski/Getty Images) Held said alongside the millions of euros spent on water-bombing planes, countries should budget more for fire prevention programs, such as supporting land managers and herders to control fuel and offering training in techniques such as dry firefighting, which do not require the use of heavy water. “Everybody knows you have to invest in other parts of fire management. Nobody ever does,” Held said. “It’s treating the symptoms, not the causes.” De Havilland’s Sweeney says the new planes will add strength to Europe’s firefighting fleet for decades to come, promising the DHC-515 will be just as indestructible as the planes that came before it. “You might argue that from a business case, [making long-lasting planes] it makes less sense,” he said. “But it’s really a point of pride for our company and our country.”
title: “How An Aging Canadair Fleet Is Keeping Europe S Fires At Bay Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-16” author: “Darrel Robertson”
“Yes, we need more Canadairs.” The amphibious, Canadian-built waterbombing plane has set the gold standard for aerial firefighting for decades. But despite its reputation as a “proven tool” among fire experts, low demand kept the plane out of production for nearly a decade. Now, amid expanding fire seasons exacerbated by climate change, countries like France are lining up to replace their aging fleets after Canadair manufacturer De Havilland announced that it will restart production with an updated design called the DHC-515. Some, however, worry that the 22 planes destined for Europe by the end of the decade may be too little, too late.
Canadian innovation
First built in the 1960s, the original Canadair CL-215 firefighting plane was designed to fight massive wildfires in the Canadian wilderness. Its unique amphibious design and low-speed control allowed it to navigate narrow canyons at low altitude, collecting thousands of liters of water directly from lakes and oceans in seconds. Plans to begin production of the DHC-515 in 2020 stalled when the pandemic “realigned … priorities away from longer-range thinking” and sapped demand from governments, says Neil Sweeney, vice-president of corporate affairs at De Havilland Canada. (De Havilland) In the decades since, the planes have become iconic for their nearly unbreakable design. Of the original 220 planes built before 1995, nearly 170 are still in use, according to Neil Sweeney, vice-president of corporate affairs for De Havilland Canada. But an updated plane almost never made it to production. Rights to the Canadair design have bounced around between companies over the past decade. Plans to begin production of the DHC-515 in 2020 stalled when the pandemic “refocused … priorities away from longer-range thinking” and sapped demand from governments, according to Sweeney. “It takes a lot to build a production line, and to do that, you need orders from prospective customers,” he said. Now, after nearly a decade of waiting, Sweeney said, “the EU has stepped up to the plate.”
Aging fleets
As many European governments shifted their focus from the pandemic to recovery this spring, they faced an impending fire season that many expected to be historic. Climate change is turning the continent into a warmer, drier place. Scientists say drought is still ravaging Europe unparalleled in the last 500 years. As a result, fires occur larger and more common in countries, such as Germany, with limited experience of them. WATCHES | Europe is warming faster than the rest of the world, climate expert says:
Europe is warming faster than much of the world, climate scientist says
The heat wave gripping much of Europe and the UK is due to global warming, says climatologist Vikki Thompson, and this “accelerating trend” in heat waves will continue unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Last year’s fires in Greece were nearly six times larger than at any other time in the last decade. But the Hellenic Air Force is fighting the fires with a fleet of CL-215s that have been in service since the 1970s. “Many of the parts are very hard to find, so we may have long delays in repairing some of the damage,” said Minister Col. Antonios Vourvoulis told the Greek daily I Kathimerini in 2018. “It’s a daily struggle.” The sorry state of France’s 12 CL-415s was partly accused for the magnitude of the devastation caused by the historic fires in Bordeaux, which forced the evacuation of thousands. But France is still better off than those countries that have no water bombers at all — like the Czech Republic, which had to borrow planes from Italy to fight a massive wildfire on its border with Germany this summer.
“Voluntary solidarity”
Loans of this kind are acts of “voluntary solidarity”, according to Balazs Ujvari, European Commission spokesman for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. But as worsening wildfires strain resources, leaders across the continent are looking for more permanent solutions. “This is something that will happen more and more often, and it is very clear that member states will not always be able to handle these things alone,” Ujvari said. A wildfire burns near Landiras, in France’s Gironde region, in July 2022. (SDIS 33/Reuters) This is one reason the European Union is planning to develop its own stockpile of firefighting aircraft. As of 2019, a program called RescEU has directed 13 firefighting aircraft, including new Canadair models, to where they are needed most. This year, six were sent to France, along with more than 400 staff and 100 vehicles — the Commission’s biggest operation to date. At present, these resources are still borrowed from other Member States. But “by the end of the decade, the goal is to double those capacities and buy … aircraft using EU funds,” Ujvari said. NATO has also stepped up to help. Through NATO Support and Supply Agency (NSPA), member states can use the alliance as an intermediary to negotiate contracts for firefighting resources from allies and the private sector. This summer, the alliance deployed a record 40 aircraft in support of Greece, including 11 firefighting planes. Stacey Cummings, NSPA director general, said she expects competition for these resources to increase as the effects of climate change worsen. “I can only see there being more demand for limited capacity going forward,” he said.
“Better not need them”
As countries compete for a shrinking stockpile of planes, news earlier this year that De Havilland would equip the assembly line in Calgary was received with relief. “When I saw the news a few weeks ago that Canadair was coming back to the market, I felt really good,” said Alexander Held, a fire expert at the European Forest Institute. “Canadair is a proven tool. It was really sad to see it discontinued.” The restart was made possible by a letter of intent signed in March, under which 22 planes will be delivered to European governments by 2029. But while the new Canadairs are sorely needed, fire experts like Held stress they’re only part of the solution — and they may not come fast enough. “It just shows a long-term failed fire management policy,” Held said. “For all the joy that this aircraft is returning, we have to remember that it would be better if we didn’t need them.” Firefighters put out flames from a burning house in Afidnes district, north of Athens, Greece, in August 2021. (Milos Bicanski/Getty Images) Held said alongside the millions of euros spent on water-bombing planes, countries should budget more for fire prevention programs, such as supporting land managers and herders to control fuel and offering training in techniques such as dry firefighting, which do not require the use of heavy water. “Everybody knows you have to invest in other parts of fire management. Nobody ever does,” Held said. “It’s treating the symptoms, not the causes.” De Havilland’s Sweeney says the new planes will add strength to Europe’s firefighting fleet for decades to come, promising the DHC-515 will be just as indestructible as the planes that came before it. “You might argue that from a business case, [making long-lasting planes] it makes less sense,” he said. “But it’s really a point of pride for our company and our country.”
title: “How An Aging Canadair Fleet Is Keeping Europe S Fires At Bay Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-11” author: “Jacob Marinelli”
“Yes, we need more Canadairs.” The amphibious, Canadian-built waterbombing plane has set the gold standard for aerial firefighting for decades. But despite its reputation as a “proven tool” among fire experts, low demand kept the plane out of production for nearly a decade. Now, amid expanding fire seasons exacerbated by climate change, countries like France are lining up to replace their aging fleets after Canadair manufacturer De Havilland announced that it will restart production with an updated design called the DHC-515. Some, however, worry that the 22 planes destined for Europe by the end of the decade may be too little, too late.
Canadian innovation
First built in the 1960s, the original Canadair CL-215 firefighting plane was designed to fight massive wildfires in the Canadian wilderness. Its unique amphibious design and low-speed control allowed it to navigate narrow canyons at low altitude, collecting thousands of liters of water directly from lakes and oceans in seconds. Plans to begin production of the DHC-515 in 2020 stalled when the pandemic “realigned … priorities away from longer-range thinking” and sapped demand from governments, says Neil Sweeney, vice-president of corporate affairs at De Havilland Canada. (De Havilland) In the decades since, the planes have become iconic for their nearly unbreakable design. Of the original 220 planes built before 1995, nearly 170 are still in use, according to Neil Sweeney, vice-president of corporate affairs for De Havilland Canada. But an updated plane almost never made it to production. Rights to the Canadair design have bounced around between companies over the past decade. Plans to begin production of the DHC-515 in 2020 stalled when the pandemic “refocused … priorities away from longer-range thinking” and sapped demand from governments, according to Sweeney. “It takes a lot to build a production line, and to do that, you need orders from prospective customers,” he said. Now, after nearly a decade of waiting, Sweeney said, “the EU has stepped up to the plate.”
Aging fleets
As many European governments shifted their focus from the pandemic to recovery this spring, they faced an impending fire season that many expected to be historic. Climate change is turning the continent into a warmer, drier place. Scientists say drought is still ravaging Europe unparalleled in the last 500 years. As a result, fires occur larger and more common in countries, such as Germany, with limited experience of them. WATCHES | Europe is warming faster than the rest of the world, climate expert says:
Europe is warming faster than much of the world, climate scientist says
The heat wave gripping much of Europe and the UK is due to global warming, says climatologist Vikki Thompson, and this “accelerating trend” in heat waves will continue unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Last year’s fires in Greece were nearly six times larger than at any other time in the last decade. But the Hellenic Air Force is fighting the fires with a fleet of CL-215s that have been in service since the 1970s. “Many of the parts are very hard to find, so we may have long delays in repairing some of the damage,” said Minister Col. Antonios Vourvoulis told the Greek daily I Kathimerini in 2018. “It’s a daily struggle.” The sorry state of France’s 12 CL-415s was partly accused for the magnitude of the devastation caused by the historic fires in Bordeaux, which forced the evacuation of thousands. But France is still better off than those countries that have no water bombers at all — like the Czech Republic, which had to borrow planes from Italy to fight a massive wildfire on its border with Germany this summer.
“Voluntary solidarity”
Loans of this kind are acts of “voluntary solidarity”, according to Balazs Ujvari, European Commission spokesman for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. But as worsening wildfires strain resources, leaders across the continent are looking for more permanent solutions. “This is something that will happen more and more often, and it is very clear that member states will not always be able to handle these things alone,” Ujvari said. A wildfire burns near Landiras, in France’s Gironde region, in July 2022. (SDIS 33/Reuters) This is one reason the European Union is planning to develop its own stockpile of firefighting aircraft. As of 2019, a program called RescEU has directed 13 firefighting aircraft, including new Canadair models, to where they are needed most. This year, six were sent to France, along with more than 400 staff and 100 vehicles — the Commission’s biggest operation to date. At present, these resources are still borrowed from other Member States. But “by the end of the decade, the goal is to double those capacities and buy … aircraft using EU funds,” Ujvari said. NATO has also stepped up to help. Through NATO Support and Supply Agency (NSPA), member states can use the alliance as an intermediary to negotiate contracts for firefighting resources from allies and the private sector. This summer, the alliance deployed a record 40 aircraft in support of Greece, including 11 firefighting planes. Stacey Cummings, NSPA director general, said she expects competition for these resources to increase as the effects of climate change worsen. “I can only see there being more demand for limited capacity going forward,” he said.
“Better not need them”
As countries compete for a shrinking stockpile of planes, news earlier this year that De Havilland would equip the assembly line in Calgary was received with relief. “When I saw the news a few weeks ago that Canadair was coming back to the market, I felt really good,” said Alexander Held, a fire expert at the European Forest Institute. “Canadair is a proven tool. It was really sad to see it discontinued.” The restart was made possible by a letter of intent signed in March, under which 22 planes will be delivered to European governments by 2029. But while the new Canadairs are sorely needed, fire experts like Held stress they’re only part of the solution — and they may not come fast enough. “It just shows a long-term failed fire management policy,” Held said. “For all the joy that this aircraft is returning, we have to remember that it would be better if we didn’t need them.” Firefighters put out flames from a burning house in Afidnes district, north of Athens, Greece, in August 2021. (Milos Bicanski/Getty Images) Held said alongside the millions of euros spent on water-bombing planes, countries should budget more for fire prevention programs, such as supporting land managers and herders to control fuel and offering training in techniques such as dry firefighting, which do not require the use of heavy water. “Everybody knows you have to invest in other parts of fire management. Nobody ever does,” Held said. “It’s treating the symptoms, not the causes.” De Havilland’s Sweeney says the new planes will add strength to Europe’s firefighting fleet for decades to come, promising the DHC-515 will be just as indestructible as the planes that came before it. “You might argue that from a business case, [making long-lasting planes] it makes less sense,” he said. “But it’s really a point of pride for our company and our country.”
title: “How An Aging Canadair Fleet Is Keeping Europe S Fires At Bay Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-28” author: “Mona Amante”
“Yes, we need more Canadairs.” The amphibious, Canadian-built waterbombing plane has set the gold standard for aerial firefighting for decades. But despite its reputation as a “proven tool” among fire experts, low demand kept the plane out of production for nearly a decade. Now, amid expanding fire seasons exacerbated by climate change, countries like France are lining up to replace their aging fleets after Canadair manufacturer De Havilland announced that it will restart production with an updated design called the DHC-515. Some, however, worry that the 22 planes destined for Europe by the end of the decade may be too little, too late.
Canadian innovation
First built in the 1960s, the original Canadair CL-215 firefighting plane was designed to fight massive wildfires in the Canadian wilderness. Its unique amphibious design and low-speed control allowed it to navigate narrow canyons at low altitude, collecting thousands of liters of water directly from lakes and oceans in seconds. Plans to begin production of the DHC-515 in 2020 stalled when the pandemic “realigned … priorities away from longer-range thinking” and sapped demand from governments, says Neil Sweeney, vice-president of corporate affairs at De Havilland Canada. (De Havilland) In the decades since, the planes have become iconic for their nearly unbreakable design. Of the original 220 planes built before 1995, nearly 170 are still in use, according to Neil Sweeney, vice-president of corporate affairs for De Havilland Canada. But an updated plane almost never made it to production. Rights to the Canadair design have bounced around between companies over the past decade. Plans to begin production of the DHC-515 in 2020 stalled when the pandemic “refocused … priorities away from longer-range thinking” and sapped demand from governments, according to Sweeney. “It takes a lot to build a production line, and to do that, you need orders from prospective customers,” he said. Now, after nearly a decade of waiting, Sweeney said, “the EU has stepped up to the plate.”
Aging fleets
As many European governments shifted their focus from the pandemic to recovery this spring, they faced an impending fire season that many expected to be historic. Climate change is turning the continent into a warmer, drier place. Scientists say drought is still ravaging Europe unparalleled in the last 500 years. As a result, fires occur larger and more common in countries, such as Germany, with limited experience of them. WATCHES | Europe is warming faster than the rest of the world, climate expert says:
Europe is warming faster than much of the world, climate scientist says
The heat wave gripping much of Europe and the UK is due to global warming, says climatologist Vikki Thompson, and this “accelerating trend” in heat waves will continue unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Last year’s fires in Greece were nearly six times larger than at any other time in the last decade. But the Hellenic Air Force is fighting the fires with a fleet of CL-215s that have been in service since the 1970s. “Many of the parts are very hard to find, so we may have long delays in repairing some of the damage,” said Minister Col. Antonios Vourvoulis told the Greek daily I Kathimerini in 2018. “It’s a daily struggle.” The sorry state of France’s 12 CL-415s was partly accused for the magnitude of the devastation caused by the historic fires in Bordeaux, which forced the evacuation of thousands. But France is still better off than those countries that have no water bombers at all — like the Czech Republic, which had to borrow planes from Italy to fight a massive wildfire on its border with Germany this summer.
“Voluntary solidarity”
Loans of this kind are acts of “voluntary solidarity”, according to Balazs Ujvari, European Commission spokesman for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. But as worsening wildfires strain resources, leaders across the continent are looking for more permanent solutions. “This is something that will happen more and more often, and it is very clear that member states will not always be able to handle these things alone,” Ujvari said. A wildfire burns near Landiras, in France’s Gironde region, in July 2022. (SDIS 33/Reuters) This is one reason the European Union is planning to develop its own stockpile of firefighting aircraft. As of 2019, a program called RescEU has directed 13 firefighting aircraft, including new Canadair models, to where they are needed most. This year, six were sent to France, along with more than 400 staff and 100 vehicles — the Commission’s biggest operation to date. At present, these resources are still borrowed from other Member States. But “by the end of the decade, the goal is to double those capacities and buy … aircraft using EU funds,” Ujvari said. NATO has also stepped up to help. Through NATO Support and Supply Agency (NSPA), member states can use the alliance as an intermediary to negotiate contracts for firefighting resources from allies and the private sector. This summer, the alliance deployed a record 40 aircraft in support of Greece, including 11 firefighting planes. Stacey Cummings, NSPA director general, said she expects competition for these resources to increase as the effects of climate change worsen. “I can only see there being more demand for limited capacity going forward,” he said.
“Better not need them”
As countries compete for a shrinking stockpile of planes, news earlier this year that De Havilland would equip the assembly line in Calgary was received with relief. “When I saw the news a few weeks ago that Canadair was coming back to the market, I felt really good,” said Alexander Held, a fire expert at the European Forest Institute. “Canadair is a proven tool. It was really sad to see it discontinued.” The restart was made possible by a letter of intent signed in March, under which 22 planes will be delivered to European governments by 2029. But while the new Canadairs are sorely needed, fire experts like Held stress they’re only part of the solution — and they may not come fast enough. “It just shows a long-term failed fire management policy,” Held said. “For all the joy that this aircraft is returning, we have to remember that it would be better if we didn’t need them.” Firefighters put out flames from a burning house in Afidnes district, north of Athens, Greece, in August 2021. (Milos Bicanski/Getty Images) Held said alongside the millions of euros spent on water-bombing planes, countries should budget more for fire prevention programs, such as supporting land managers and herders to control fuel and offering training in techniques such as dry firefighting, which do not require the use of heavy water. “Everybody knows you have to invest in other parts of fire management. Nobody ever does,” Held said. “It’s treating the symptoms, not the causes.” De Havilland’s Sweeney says the new planes will add strength to Europe’s firefighting fleet for decades to come, promising the DHC-515 will be just as indestructible as the planes that came before it. “You might argue that from a business case, [making long-lasting planes] it makes less sense,” he said. “But it’s really a point of pride for our company and our country.”
