NEXT STEP IN AERIAL FIREFIGHTING FLEET RENEWAL APPROVED

A four-year $50.9 million agreement has been approved to buy conversion kits to upgrade four of Saskatchewan's CL-215 airtankers with turbine engines. The purchase is part of the $93 million in additional funding for the fleet renewal program announced in July 2005.

"This agreement represents an important step forward in the renewal of our aerial firefighting fleet," Environment Minister John Nilson said. "We are continuing to build on the significant progress already made to enhance the safety of northern communities and to protect important forest resources."

Under the agreement, Bombardier Inc. will manufacture and supply four kits over the next four years, with the first to be delivered in October 2007. The conversion of the planes' radial engines to more powerful turbine engines will reduce downtime and ongoing maintenance costs, as well as increasing the speed at which the planes can fly, making them even more effective. A third party, to be selected through a public process, will install the kits.

Three new birddog aircraft, used to guide the airtankers to their targets, were put into service for the 2005 fire season; four additional birddog aircraft have been purchased and will go into service by May 2006. Two new land-based Convair 580A airtankers, replacing the older Dehavilland Tracker airtankers, will be ready for the 2006 fire season, with two more to be delivered in April 2007.

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For More Information, Contact:

John Cook Environment Prince Albert Cell: (306)961-2105