Canadair CL-215



The Canadair CL-215 (Scooper) was the first model in a series of firefighting flying boat amphibious aircraft built by Canadair and later Bombardier. The CL-215 is a twin-engine, high-wing aircraft designed to operate well at low speeds and in high gust-loading environments, as are found over forest fires.

Design and development


The CL-215 can be traced back to two early projects by Canadair, the CL-43 and CL-204. The CL-43 was conceived as a logistics aircraft and was based on the design of the Canadian Vickers-built 369 Canso (a variant of the Consolidated PBY Catalina). Arising from an earlier 1960s research study at the company, the original concept was for a twin-engined floatplane transport, that was altered into a "firefighter" as a result of a request by forestry officials in the Quebec Service Aérien (Quebec Government Air Service) for a more effective way of delivering water to forest fires. The 1962 preliminary design, the CL-204, was a purpose-designed water bomber that evolved into an amphibian flying boat configuration, powered by two shoulder-mounted 2100 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 piston engines. The definitive design known as the CL-215 received a program go-ahead in February 1966 with its maiden flight on 23 October 1967. The first delivery was to the French civil protection agency (Sécurité Civile, then known as Protection Civile) in June 1969. Production of CL-215s progressed through five series ending in 1990.

Variants

 * CL-215: Initial version, with Pratt & Whitney R-2800-83AM 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines.
 * CL-215T: In 1987, the CL-215T was announced, with improvements in handling brought about by design changes to the wings and empennage, and more powerful Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines. Originally the follow-up CL-215T was to be a simple turboprop-powered development of the CL-215, and Canadair converted two aircraft in 1989 to act as development aircraft. The first of these flew on 8 June 1989. Retrofit kits for CL-215s to the new standard are offered, but Canadair elected not to build new CL-215Ts and instead developed the CL-415. Cascade Aerospace, Canada, offers CL-215 to CL-215T engine retrofits using the Bombardier kit and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF engines.
 * CL-415EAF: Conversion program offered by Viking Air featuring Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines and EFIS avionics suite. The first of 11 used aircraft purchased to be modified should be delivered in the first quarter of 2020. They will be strengthened to raise its maximum takeoff weight and have new flight controls, hydraulic and fuel systems. The CL-515 will be a new production version with the CL-415EAF configuration. Viking will hire up to 150 employees for those conversions through its dedicated subsidiary, and in May 2018 applied for government support to restart production.

Operators


Over a period of 21 years beginning in 1969, 125 of these aircraft were built and sold to customers in 11 countries. As of January 2016 there were 59 CL215 registered with Transport Canada.
 * Buffalo Airways, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories: eight CL215 1A10
 * Conair Group, Abbotsford, British Columbia: four CL-215-6B11 (Series CL-215T) (operated under contract on behalf of the aircraft owner - the Government of Alberta)
 * Manitoba (Government) Air Service: eleven total, seven CL215 1A10; four CL-215-6B11 (Series CL-415)
 * Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: seven total, two CL215 1A10; five CL-215-6B11 (Series CL-415)
 * Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Ontario: nine CL-215-6B11 (Series CL-415)
 * Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife, Quebec: fourteen total, four CL215 1A10; two CL-215-6B11 (Series CL-215T); eight CL-215-6B11 (Series CL-415)
 * Ministry of Environment Aviation Operations, Saskatchewan: six total, three CL215 1A10; three CL-215-6B11 (Series CL-215T); according to the Ministry of Environment six CL-215P deployed to Airtanker Groups 3, 4 and 5


 * Hellenic Air Force: 11 CL-215s as of December 2016.
 * Societa Ricerche Esperienze Meteorologiche (SoREM): five CL-215s leased abroad and operated on behalf of Protezione Civile
 * Spanish Air Force, 43 Grupo - 14 as of December 2016.
 * Ministry of Environment (INAER): five Ex-Spanish Air Force CL-215Ts
 * Royal Thai Navy: one of the two CL-215s delivered in 1978 is used for search and rescue/patrol.
 * Gokcen Aviation - Turkish Aeronautical Association: nine CL-215s and the current contractor for the Turkish Ministry of Forestry
 * Aero-Flite, Inc. Kingman, Arizona: five CL-215s
 * Royal Thai Navy: one of the two CL-215s delivered in 1978 is used for search and rescue/patrol.
 * Gokcen Aviation - Turkish Aeronautical Association: nine CL-215s and the current contractor for the Turkish Ministry of Forestry
 * Aero-Flite, Inc. Kingman, Arizona: five CL-215s
 * Aero-Flite, Inc. Kingman, Arizona: five CL-215s
 * Aero-Flite, Inc. Kingman, Arizona: five CL-215s

Former operators

 * 885th Firefighting Squadron of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence operated CL-215s from 1991 to 2003. They have been replaced by CL-415s.
 * Sécurité Civile: 15 aircraft operated from June 1969 to 1996, now all replaced with 12 CL-415s.
 * CVG Ferrominera Orinoco: two CL-215s, one crashed on 1989, the other one has been parked ever since
 * Yugoslav Air Force: five CL-215s in service with the 676th Fire Fighting Squadron from 1981, until four sold to Greece in 1995.
 * CVG Ferrominera Orinoco: two CL-215s, one crashed on 1989, the other one has been parked ever since
 * Yugoslav Air Force: five CL-215s in service with the 676th Fire Fighting Squadron from 1981, until four sold to Greece in 1995.
 * Yugoslav Air Force: five CL-215s in service with the 676th Fire Fighting Squadron from 1981, until four sold to Greece in 1995.
 * Yugoslav Air Force: five CL-215s in service with the 676th Fire Fighting Squadron from 1981, until four sold to Greece in 1995.

Accidents and incidents
CL-215s have been involved in 30 accidents, 19 fatal.

Aircraft on display

 * Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre CL-215 F-ZBBT, formerly of the French Sécurité Civile
 * Musée de l'Air CL-215 F-ZBAY, formerly of the French Sécurité Civile
 * Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum CL-215 F-ZBBH, formerly of the French Sécurité Civile
 * Technik Museum Speyer CL-215 F-ZBAR, formerly of the French Sécurité Civile