Pan-Canadian Aerial Asset Program

The Government of Canada is investing $316.7 million over five years to increase Canada’s aerial wildfire firefighting capacity. This investment, directed to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) through a contribution agreement with Natural Resources Canada, has enabled them to establish the Pan-Canadian Aerial Asset Program (PCAA). For the 2026 wildfire season, CIFFC has secured 10 aerial firefighting assets from three companies: Conair Group Inc., Coldstream Helicopters, and VIH Helicopters.

The assets will be prepositioned within Canada based on current and forecast fire activity, forecasted fire weather, and anticipated agency resource needs, to ensure efficient deployment of the most appropriate aerial asset(s). Provincial and territorial wildfire agencies can submit a resource request via CIFFC through established resource sharing mechanisms to deploy PCAAP aircraft during periods of elevated wildfire activity.

The aerial firefighting assets include:

Conair Group Inc.

• Asset name: Dash 8-400 AT (Land-based Airtankers)
• Number of asset(s): Four
• Base location: Abbotsford, British Columbia
• Contract details:150-day contract May 1, 2026, until September 27, 2026
• Asset description and images:
  • Max Tank Capacity - 10,000 L
  • Cruise Speed of 600 km/h
  • Drop speed of 230 km/h
  • Operational on 5,000 ft runway
  • Deployment configuration - deployed as a group with birddog or as a single resource

• Asset name: TBM 960AA aircraft
• Number of asset(s): One
• Base location: Abbotsford, British Columbia
• Contract details:150-day contract May 1, 2026, until September 27, 2026
• Asset description and images:
  • Air Attack Platform
  • Cruise Speed of 600 km/h
  • Air Attack Speed of 230 km/h
  • Trainer seat that can be in various locations
  • Smoke equipped
  • HomeSafe emergency system
  • Glass cockpit
  • Newest technology for radio communication

• Asset name: Forward Attack Tanker Base (FATB)
• Number of asset(s): Two
• Pre-position locations: central and eastern Canada
• Contract details:150-day contract May 1, 2026, until September 27, 2026
• Asset description:
  • Strategically placed aerial firefighting equipment set up at temporary airport locations to support retardant operations in areas that do not usually operate land based airtanker groups.

Coldstream Helicopters

• Asset name: Airbus AS332 L & L1 (Heavy rotary wing helicopters)
• Number of asset(s): Three
• Base location: Kelowna, British Columbia and Southport, Manitoba
• Contract details:150-day contract May 1, 2026, until September 27, 2026
• Asset description and images:
  • 3,410 L or 4000 L bucket with Powerfill and Multi-Drop Capabilities
  • Cruise speed of 270 km/h
  • Configuration: Group or single resource

VIH Helicopters

• Asset name: Sikorsky S-92A (Heavy rotary wing helicopters)
• Number of asset(s): Two
• Base location: North Saanich, British Columbia
• Contract details: 150-day contract May 22, 2026, until October 18, 2026
• Asset description and images:
  • 5000 L Helitank with rapid-hover fill
  • Cruise speed of 270 km/h
  • Configuration: Group or single resource

About The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre

CIFFC is owned and operated by federal, provincial, and territorial governments.

CIFFC coordinates the sharing of firefighting resources for wildland fire management agencies in Canada and internationally. These resources include personnel, equipment, aircraft, information, and expertise.