Bombardier Aerospace last week said it would again offer turbine conversion kits for its CL-215 amphibious aircraft after nine orders were placed by the two western Canada provinces, a private U.S. operator, and Buffalo Airways Ltd. of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The kits convert the piston-powered CL-215 into CL-215T aircraft, powered by two PW123AF Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines. Total value of the nine orders is approximately $85 million U.S. The converted aircraft will also feature improved and modernized structural components, electrical distribution system and engine fuel system, in addition to the replacement of manual flight controls by powered systems to benefit from added engine power and reduced pilot workload. Once modified, the aircraft will perform similarly to the renowned Bombardier 415 firefighting aircraft.
This is not a new venture, said Michel Bourgeois, president, Bombardier Amphibious Aircraft. Seventeen CL-215 were converted in the late 1980s, two with the province of Qubec and 15 in Spain, and they have since flown over 70,000 hours and performed more than 170,000 drops. Offering solutions such as conversion kits demonstrates our long-term commitment towards supporting the operators of Bombardiers amphibious aircraft. The Bombardier 215T has a maximum cruise speed of about 189 KTAS and, in an average mission of six nm from water to fire, can complete nine drops in an hour, delivering 12,535 U.S. gallons of fire suppressant.
Bombardier Again Offers Turbine Conversion Kits For CL-215 Amphib
Key Takeaways:
- Bombardier Aerospace is re-offering turbine conversion kits for its CL-215 amphibious aircraft after receiving nine new orders totaling approximately $85 million U.S.
- The kits upgrade piston-powered CL-215s to CL-215T turboprop aircraft, featuring PW123AF engines, modernized structural and electrical systems, and powered flight controls.
- These converted aircraft will perform similarly to the renowned Bombardier 415 firefighting aircraft, offering increased cruise speed, enhanced firefighting capacity, and reduced pilot workload.
- This initiative extends a successful program from the late 1980s where 17 CL-215s were previously converted, demonstrating Bombardier's long-term commitment to supporting its amphibious aircraft operators.
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