Province awards contract to fix water bomber

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has awarded a contract valued at $14.8 million to De Havilland Aircraft of Canada for the repair work for the province’s fifth CL-415 water bomber.

The work will be carried out by PAL Aerospace, a subcontractor for De Havilland.

The aircraft was damaged on Burin Peninsula while taking on water during a forest fire, resulting in considerable structural damage. The scope of work for the contract will address these structural repairs, as well as required maintenance, allowing the water bomber to return to service for the 2026-27 fire season.