New technology benefits airborne firefighters

As the rest of Canada endures a heat wave, British Columbians, in contrast, have been subject to one of the worst summers in memory with cool temperatures and an abundance of rain. Yet despite the inclement weather, 37 wildfires are currently raging around the western province, keeping an army of about 1,000 seasonal firefighters employed in what has become an annual battle of man versus nature. On Tuesday at the Abbotsford International Airport, about one hour east of Vancouver, the temperature a balmy 18 degrees Celsius with the rain threatening, aviation service provider Conair demonstrated to the media its newest technology in the battle to contain fires. Built on the underbelly of a 1960s-era Lockheed L-188 Electra Airtanker, Conair introduced its Constant Flow Retardant Delivery System, an updated version of older technology dating back more than 15 years. With an investment in millions of Canadian dollars, according to Conair Senior Vice President Rick Pederson, through an improved tank design, door size and computer system, the modified former passenger plane can effectively dump 12,490 liters of retardant on a blaze, significantly helping to impede its spread. The system, which can drop retardant, suppressant or water, has a volume 10 percent greater than the previous generation. Pedersen said Conair, which operates about 50 planes throughout western Canada, as well as in Alaska, France and Australia, had smaller and similar systems on nine Convair CV-580 aircraft and would be equipping another larger aircraft to be ready by 2013. "The technology that's being introduced on this particular (Lockheed Electra) aircraft is not only a volume increase over what's currently available, but it also incorporates a number of technology changes in terms of capability of the airplane to be able to apply for retardants in the line-building capabilities, but also those kinds of fires that you see from single lightning strikes where you are trying to concentrate on a high coverage level with a lower volume."