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The government of Alberta has signed a contract to purchase five new De Havilland Canadair DHC-515 waterbombers that will be added to the province’s existing fleet of four waterbombers in a plan to bolster the province’s ability to fight wildfires.
Premier Danielle Smith and Alberta Minister of Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen made the announcement Tuesday afternoon during a press conference at De Havilland Aircraft of Canada’s office in Calgary.
“This is a $400 million investment” and fulfills a promise the government made in its 2024 budget, said Smith, who added that some of the money being used to purchase the planes will also come from the federal government.
The first aircraft is expected to be delivered by the spring of 2031.
Tuesday’s announcement comes as De Havilland is in the process of building a new aircraft manufacturing plant in Wheatland County, about 30 minutes east of Calgary, which will be used to manufacture the company’s new DHC-515 waterbombers as well as the company’s venerable, world-renowned, Twin Otter aircraft.
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An artists rendition of the new aircraft manufacturing plant that De Havilland Canada is building in Wheatland County, about 30 minutes east of Calgary.
Courtesy: De Havilland
De Havilland claims the new waterbombers can fly at speeds about 15 per cent faster than the province’s existing fleet of four CL-215 waterbombers that were built between 1986 and 1988.
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They can also carry about 15 per cent more water than the older waterbombers.
De Havilland announced plans to move its company headquarters to Alberta in 2022.
De Havilland says construction of its new aircraft manufacturing plant in Wheatland County, is expected to begin in the spring.
Global News
Brian Chafe, CEO of De Havilland, says construction of the company’s new manufacturing plant is expected to begin this spring with the final parts of the assembly line are expected to be completed by 2030.
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De Havilland announces new airplane manufacturing plant east of Calgary
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