ICAO CL2T

Bombardier 415

Bombardier

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Purpose-built amphibious aerial firefighter for wildfire suppression.

First flight

1993

Category

Amphibious firefighting turboprop

Range

2,426 km

Engines

Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprops

Status

In service

The Bombardier 415, also known as the Superscooper, is a purpose-built amphibious aircraft designed exclusively for aerial firefighting. Developed by Canadair and later produced by Bombardier, it replaced the earlier CL-215 with turboprop engines for improved performance. It entered service in the mid-1990s and remains the premier dedicated aerial firefighting aircraft in the world. The aircraft can scoop approximately 6,137 litres of water from a lake or other body of water in roughly 12 seconds while skimming the surface at speed, enabling repeated drops on a fire in quick succession. This scooping capability allows it to reload far faster than aircraft that must return to an airport to reload with retardant. The 415 is operated by government agencies and civil protection organizations across Europe and North America, primarily in wildfire-prone regions. De Havilland Canada acquired the type certificate and relaunched the aircraft as the De Havilland Canada DHC-515 Firefighter, ensuring continued production.

Notable operators

Major operators include the Sécurité Civile of France, the Greek government, the Italian Civil Protection, the Croatian government, and various Canadian provincial governments.

Notable facts

›Can scoop approximately 6,137 litres of water in about 12 seconds while skimming a water surface.
›Designed as a dedicated aerial firefighter, not a converted transport aircraft.
›Succeeded the piston-powered CL-215 with more powerful turboprop engines.
›De Havilland Canada relaunched production as the DHC-515 Firefighter.
›ICAO designator CL2T reflects its Canadair origins despite later Bombardier branding.