Bombardier Canadair CL-415

Type (Muster)
Multi-role amphibian (Mehrzweck-Amphibienflugzeug)

Country (Land)
Canada (Kanada)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Bombardier Aerospace (Amphibious Aircraft)
PO Box 6087
Montreal, Quebec H3C 3G9
Canada

Phone: 001-514/855-7600
Fax: 001-514/855-7604

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2
Passengers (Passagiere): 8 to 30, if water tanks are removed

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprops
Power (Leistung): 2 x 1775 kW (2380 shp)
Propeller: Hamilton Standard 14SF-19 four-blade, diameter 3,97 m
Fuel consumption (Kraftstoffverbrauch): 840 litres/hour typical

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 19,82 m
Height (Höhe): 8,98 m
Span (Spannweite): 28,61 m
Maximum fuselage diameter (Rumpfdurchmesser):
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 100,33 sq m

Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 9,38 m excluding cockpit
Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 2,39 m maximum
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe):1,90 m
Cabin volume (Kabinenvolumen): 35,6 cu m excluding cockpit

Weights (Massen)
Operating weight empty (Einsatz-Leermasse): 12861 kg
Max. payload (max. Nutzlast): 6123 kg
Integral water tank capacity (Wassertank): 6160 litres (1622 US gal)
Fuel capacity (Kraftstoff): 5796 litres (1530 US gal)
Fuel with max. payload (Kraftstoff bei max. Nutzlast):
Max. zero-fuel weight (Max. Masse ohne Kraftstoff): 19051 kg
Max. ramp weight (Max. Masse am Boden): 19958 kg
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 19890 kg on land, 17169 kg without disposable load
Max. lift-off weight after water scoop (Startmasse nach Wasseraufnahme im Flug): 20865 kg
Max. landing weight (Max. Landemasse):16783 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. cruise speed (max. Reisegeschwindigkeit): 376 km/h at 5000 ft/ISA
Initial rate of climb (Steigrate): 7 m/s at max. weight
Takeoff distance (Startstrecke): 844 m or 814 m on water
Landing distance (Landestrecke): 674 m on land, 664 m on water
Max. Range (max. Reichweite): 2427 km (1310 NM)
Water dropped per hour (Wasserabwurf pro Stunde): 54140 l, when 11 km from fire
Scooping time to refill tanks (Auffüllen der Tanks im Wasser): 12 seconds
Design limits: + 3,25/-1 g

Costs (Kosten)
Croatia got its CL-415 in 1996 at 22 million US-Dollars including training and support services. The Greek order in January 1999 was valued at 250 million US-Dollars for ten (including spare parts, equipement and training).

Customers (Kunden)
By January 1999, Bombardier had orders for 51 aircraft and had delivered 38 to customers like

Argentina (2 ordered in mid-1997)
Canada (8 for the Government of Quebec and 9 for the Ontario province)
Croatia (1, delivered January 1997)
France (12, with first aircraft accepted in June 1995 after modifications. Last Cl-415 handed over in June 1997)
Greece (In January 1999, the Ministry of Defence purchased 10 aircraft of the 415GR version, with an option on five more. Deliveries run from the first quarter of 1999 through 2001)
Italy (10 ordered by 1998, used by the Department of Civil Protection since March 1995)

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
None. The CL-415 is currently the only large amphibian aircraft available.

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The CL-415 was officially launched on 16. October 1991 with an order from the French Government in hand. It is the latest generation in the Canadair amphibian family. It follows on to the piston-powered CL-215 and the retrofit CL-215T. Its main role remains firefighting, where it capitalized on its capability to scoop water near a fire and providing heavy sustained aerial attack in order to contain blazes. It can also be configured for other utility roles including maritime search and rescue, surveillance and personnel transport.
First flight of the CL-415 took place on December 6, 1993, with Doug Adkins, Canadair's chief test pilot and director of flight operatioins and co-pilot Yves Mahaut. It lasted two hours and 15 minutes, with the aircraft reaching an altitude of 2500 ft and a speed of 325 km/h.
Restricted and utility category type certificates from Tansport Canada were received on June 24, 1994. On October 14 that year, the FAA also gave approval in the restricted category. Deliveries began in November 1994.
With the Greek order of January 1999, a new model was launched. The Canadair 415GR features higher operating weights to accomodate future installation of search and rescue mission systems. Additionally, it will be equipped with on-board boat handling and utility cargo hoisting equipment.
As of April 1998, total fleet hours stood at 17605, with 56699 water drops performed.

Last updated 13. January 1999

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