The devastating wildfire season in Europe this year could spur new business for a Victoria-based aircraft company and restart production of a Canadian-made water bomber. During the devastating 2017 wildfire season, the Canadair CL-415 could be seen overhead, emptying its 6,000-litre water tanks on fires in Portugal, Italy, Croatia and France. Viking acquired the rights from Bombardier Inc. in 2016 to build, support and service the existing fleet of about 170 CL-415s which have been in use since the mid-1990s in 11 countries. When Viking acquired the rights to the CL-415 in 2016 it also announced newly acquired and specially repurposed 50,000 square foot facility in Calgary, and the hiring of 40 new staff. The CL-415 business follows Viking Air's acquisition of rights in 2006 to the Twin Otter which had ended production in 1988.

Source: CBC News October 31, 2017 13:30 UTC