Alberta’s government has announced it has ordered five CL-515 “Super-Scooper” water bombers from De Havilland Canada (DHC). Delivering the announcement on February 17 in the company’s Calgary, Alberta office were Alberta premier Danielle Smith and the province’s forestry minister, Todd Loewen.
“This is a $400 million investment,” said Smith, adding that the federal government will be contributing money to towards the purchase. The aircraft will be built at DHC’s new campus, De Havilland Field, shortly to start construction in Wheatland County, roughly 30 kilometres east of Calgary. Production of the DHC Twin Otter will also be relocated to the new location from Victoria, British Columbia and Calgary, where final assembly is currently taking place.
The new turbine-powered 515s will join an existing fleet of four piston-powered CL-215s that were built in the late 1980s. The 515 can carry 15 percent more water than the 215s.
Delivery is expected to begin in the spring of 2031.
Follow this link to view a video presentation of De Havilland Canada’s planned new design, testing and production centre: https://vimeo.com/754488717?fl=pl&fe=cm