March 31,2022 Scudrunners Aviation News – De Havilland Aircraft of Canada announced today they will go ahead with plans to construct a new generation of water bomber based off the iconic Canadair CL-215 & 415. The new aircraft will drop the CL prefix and adopt the classic de Havilland Canada DHC to be named the DHC-515.
Longview previously had signaled intent to construct an updated Water Bomber when it signed an agreement for 6 “CL-515” with Indonesia in June of 2019. Indonesia’s agreement commitment was conditional only on Longview Aviation Capital’s Board of Directors approving the production launch program. That agreement included refurbishment of a CL-215 to be upgraded to the CL-415EAF “Enhanced Aerial Firefighter”.
Although production and launch of that program was delayed with the Covid19 Pandemic, todays announcement comes with additional letters of intent from European customers totaling 22 new DHC-515.
The press release states final assembly will take place in Calgary Alberta creating 500 new jobs over the coming years of production. This may signal a new production facility for the stable of aircraft Longview owns the rights to including the Twin Otter 400 DHC-6 (Viking Twin Otter 400) and the entire Dash 8 line including the Q400 Series.
The Press Release included some quotes from various Politicians.
De Havilland Canada’s investment in Alberta represents a new era of diversification and economic growth in Alberta. With the hundreds of jobs being created by the DHC-515 being manufactured here, the sky is the limit for job creation in our aerospace industry.” – Jason Kenney, Premier of Alberta.
