Civil Protection: Six additional water-bombing aircraft for the Nîmes base

On Tuesday, during his visit to Haute-Corse, Gérard Collomb, the Minister of the Interior, announced an order for six additional Dash 8 water-bombing aircraft to help fight forest fires. A union representing Canadair pilots had highlighted the shortage of water-bombing aircraft, with some being grounded for maintenance. Two water-bombing aircraft were requested as reinforcements from the European Union; an Italian aircraft arrived in Corsica on Tuesday evening. The Civil Protection air fleet currently comprises 26 aircraft, including 23 water-bombing aircraft (12 Canadairs, 9 Trackers and 2 Dash aircraft).

A versatile aircraft

When the water-bombing kit is removed, the DASH can be used to carry equipment or passengers.

DASH 8 specifications:

Radio call sign: Milan (+ No.) Type: Short- and medium-haul commercial aircraft, monoplane, high-wing, twin-engine. Mission: Passenger and freight transport. Civil Protection Mission: Armed aerial surveillance, initial attack and fire support, logistical transport. Dimensions: Wingspan 28.42 m, length 32.84 m, height 8.34 m. Mass: Empty weight 37,800 lbs, laden weight 64,356 lbs. Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney 150 A turboprop engines, each producing 5,071 hp. Performance: Cruising speed 360 kts. Water cannon kit: 2 x 100mm fire hose couplings for ground-level filling, 1 ventral hold extending outwards to half the circumference in the fuselage, with a total capacity of 10,000 litres.

The Prime Minister speaks on air assets at the National Assembly:

Additional personnel and Canadair aircraft, and the purchase of heavy water-bombing aircraft: an update on our measures to tackle wildfires. #LiveAN #QAG pic.twitter.com/ETTKx3niUm

— Edouard Philippe (@EPhilippePM) 26 July 2017