How Much Does a Canadair Firefighting Plane Cost?

Published on July 24, 2026 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using 9 sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

A new Canadair 515 firefighting plane is reasonably estimated at US$45 million to US$60 million for the aircraft and selected production support. A government purchase with training, spare parts, tools, and technical services can reach about US$55 million to US$70 million per plane.

The Canadair name covers several amphibious water bombers, including the piston-powered CL-215, the turboprop CL-415, the converted CL-415EAF, and the new De Havilland Canadair 515. Model, condition, contract scope, and delivery timing create large price differences.

Pricing is usually stated per aircraft or fleet package. Governments and specialized aerial-firefighting operators are the normal buyers.

A converted CL-415EAF has recently carried a program value near US$34 million per aircraft, while new DHC-515 fleet packages have divided to about US$56 million or more per plane.

How Much Does a Canadair Firefighting Plane Cost?

Jump to sections

• New Canadair 515 estimate: US$45 million (at $30 per hour, earning that amount would take about 721 years of full-time work, before taxes) to US$60 million
• Supported government package: US$55 million to US$70 million per aircraft
• Greece package division: about US$56 million per aircraft
• Ontario program division: more than C$83.3 million per aircraft
• CL-415EAF conversion program: about US$34 million per aircraft

What this is about

A Canadair firefighting plane is a purpose-built amphibious aircraft that can operate from a runway, land on water, refill its tanks while moving across the surface, and return to a wildfire for another drop. The current new-production aircraft is the De Havilland Canadair 515, also called the DHC-515.

The aircraft includes a reinforced amphibious hull, retractable scooping probes, internal water tanks, drop-control equipment, two turboprop engines, modern avionics, corrosion protection, and systems designed for repeated low-level firefighting cycles. De Havilland Canada identifies the model as a new-production amphibious firefighting aircraft on its Canadair 515 product page.

The plane is only one part of the purchase. An operator also needs pilots qualified for low-level water operations, maintenance technicians, spare parts, approved tools, fuel equipment, mission planning, insurance, hangar space, and dispatch support. Government contracts may combine these items with the aircraft. This is why dividing a fleet agreement by the number of planes usually produces a higher figure than the estimated factory value of one airframe.

What a new Canadair 515 costs

A practical aircraft-level estimate for a new Canadair 515 is US$45 million (about 721 years of full-time work at $30 per hour) to US$60 million. De Havilland Canada does not publish a retail price list, so current pricing must be built from government contracts, order quantities, support terms, and currency conversions.

The midpoint of the estimated range is US$52.5 million. The arithmetic is US$45 million + US$60 million = US$105 million, followed by division by two. This midpoint is useful for early fleet planning, but it is not a manufacturer quote.

Canadair purchase type	Estimated cost	Pricing scope
New Canadair 515	US$45 million to US$60 million	Aircraft and selected production support
Supported government package	US$55 million to US$70 million per plane	Aircraft, spares, training, and support
CL-415EAF conversion	About US$31 million to US$34 million	Older CL-215 converted to enhanced standard
Used CL-215 or CL-415	Contract-specific	Condition and refurbishment drive cost

Quantity can affect the result. A multi-aircraft customer may spread training, tooling, and engineering work across a larger fleet. A buyer ordering one or two planes may carry more shared program expense per aircraft.

Three government and operator purchases

Greece. Greece approved a contract worth 361 million euros, reported at about US$392 million (about 6.3 thousand years of full-time work at $30 per hour), for seven DHC-515 aircraft. Dividing US$392 million by seven gives US$56 million per aircraft. The agreement covers aircraft plus spare parts, training, and support, according to the Canadian Commercial Corporation contract notice.

Ontario. Ontario says it is investing more than C$500 million to purchase six DHC-515 water bombers. The division is C$500 million ÷ 6 = more than C$83.3 million per plane. The province repeated the investment in its 2026 wildfire readiness announcement. The public figure may include program equipment and support beyond the aircraft.

Bridger Aerospace. A six-aircraft CL-415EAF agreement was valued at US$204 million with all options exercised. That equals US$34 million per aircraft. The conversion-program report states that the order covered six enhanced aircraft built from existing CL-215 airframes.

Worked fleet example

• Planning quantity: 4 new Canadair 515 aircraft
• Lower aircraft estimate: 4 × US$45 million = US$180 million
• Upper aircraft estimate: 4 × US$60 million = US$240 million
• Planning midpoint: 4 × US$52.5 million = US$210 million

The example covers aircraft-level planning. Training, spares, facilities, insurance, and seasonal operations may raise the final fleet budget.

Why a government package costs more

A new fleet operator may need spare engines, propellers, landing-gear parts, scooping-system components, water-tank hardware, maintenance tools, diagnostic equipment, manuals, and an initial parts inventory. Pilot and mechanic training can also be included in the procurement package.

Greece’s agreement specifically includes spare parts, training, and support. Its public per-aircraft division of US$56 million falls inside the broader supported-purchase range, but it does not disclose a separate price for each plane. The country’s civil-protection ministry also identifies initial support equipment, personnel training, and transport services in its procurement description.

Infrastructure can create another layer of spending. An operator may need hangars sized for the aircraft, shoreline or runway access, maintenance stands, parts storage, crew facilities, fuel systems, and winter corrosion-control work. A government replacing an existing CL-415 fleet may already own some of this equipment. A first-time operator may need to build it.

Additional fleet costs can move a purchase from an aircraft-level estimate of US$45 million to US$60 million toward a supported package of US$55 million to US$70 million per plane. Large infrastructure projects and multiyear operations sit outside that range.

CL-415EAF conversion

The CL-415EAF is not a newly built Canadair 515. It begins with an existing CL-215 airframe and receives turboprop engines, avionics, cockpit systems, structural work, and firefighting upgrades. The program gives operators another route to a modern scooping aircraft when suitable donor airframes are available.

Bridger’s US$204 million program divided by six aircraft gives about US$34 million each. An earlier stated program value of US$186 million for six would equal US$31 million per aircraft. Options and added work explain part of the difference between those two totals.

A used CL-215 or CL-415 cannot be priced from age alone. Buyers must review remaining structural life, corrosion around the hull and water-contact areas, engine hours, propeller status, landing gear, avionics, maintenance records, tank condition, and scooping equipment. An inexpensive aircraft with overdue engine or corrosion work can require a large refurbishment budget.

Supply is limited because relatively few aircraft were produced and active operators tend to retain them. A buyer may also compete for the same airframes needed by conversion programs. The cost of a used plane should be evaluated with a detailed inspection and a funded maintenance plan rather than a simple asking price.

Operating cost and seasonal readiness

Canadair operating spending includes pilots, maintenance crews, turboprop fuel, inspections, engine reserves, parts, insurance, training, positioning flights, and dispatch readiness. Repeated low-altitude drops and water-scooping cycles place different demands on an aircraft than normal passenger or cargo flying.

A promotional comparison published by Fire Boss places a CL-415 mission scenario near US$42,000 per flight hour. That figure should be treated as a vendor comparison rather than a universal operator rate because fuel prices, contract structures, crew costs, maintenance accounting, and standby charges vary. The source presents the figure in its aircraft cost comparison.

Standby revenue shows another side of the cost. Bridger Aerospace announced at least US$30 million in 2026 standby revenue for four CL-415EAF aircraft assigned under two 160-day task orders. Dividing US$30 million by four gives at least US$7.5 million per aircraft for the covered season before considering contract details. The figure comes from Bridger’s 2026 task-order announcement.

Standby payments keep aircraft, crews, and maintenance support ready even on days without a fire mission. Flight-hour charges and other reimbursable expenses may be handled separately under the contract.

Production timing and delivery

The DHC-515 is in production, but a buyer cannot expect immediate delivery. De Havilland Canada reported in March 2026 that major fuselage and wing structures for the first aircraft were being assembled at Canadian facilities. Its March 2026 production update identifies 22 aircraft for European customers and orders from Canadian provinces.

Reuters reported that the first flight was planned for 2027 and that the first delivery to Greece was expected in 2028. The report also said De Havilland Canada had 31 orders at that point, including European aircraft and Canadian provincial commitments. The manufacturer estimated worldwide demand for 250 to 350 planes in the September 2025 production report.

Greece’s delivery schedule runs from 2027 through 2030 under its approved agreement, though manufacturing schedules can change as certification and assembly progress. A buyer entering the order book later may wait several years for production slots.

Delivery timing affects cost planning because an agency may need to keep older aircraft operating, lease seasonal coverage, or hire outside contractors until new planes arrive. Purchase price and fleet availability should be considered together.

Canadair aircraft vs other options

A Canadair water bomber works best when a suitable lake, river, reservoir, or coastal area is close to the fire. Reuters reported that the tanks can fill in eight to 12 seconds and that crews may make 40 to 50 drops during a four-hour fuel cycle when water is nearby. That refill pattern can reduce the need to return to an airport after every load.

Smaller single-engine scoopers cost less to acquire and operate, but they carry less water. Converted large air tankers carry larger retardant loads and can travel farther, yet they usually need a runway for refilling. Helicopters can place water precisely and work in tighter terrain, though their payload, speed, and operating structure differ. The cost of purchasing a helicopter varies widely by size and mission equipment.

Fuel is only one operating item. A current jet-fuel cost comparison can help with a basic budget, but it does not capture crew readiness, engine reserves, maintenance labor, or aircraft availability.

Makes sense if

• The operator has reliable water sources near frequent fire areas.
• Repeated scooping and short-cycle drops match the mission.
• The fleet budget covers training, spares, and maintenance support.
• The buyer can accept a multiyear production schedule.

Doesn’t make sense if

• Suitable scooping water is rarely available.
• The aircraft must be delivered immediately.
• The budget covers purchase but not seasonal readiness.
• A used aircraft is assumed to need no corrosion or engine work.

What we checked

• Checked the current aircraft configuration on the manufacturer’s Canadair 515 page.
• Confirmed active assembly through De Havilland Canada’s 2026 production report.
• Cross-referenced Greece’s seven-aircraft package through CCC and government records.
• Verified Ontario’s six-aircraft investment through the provincial government.
• Checked the CL-415EAF program value through published contract reporting.

Article Highlights

• A new Canadair 515 is estimated at US$45 million to US$60 million.
• A supported government package may reach US$55 million to US$70 million per aircraft.
• Greece’s seven-plane package divided to about US$56 million each.
• Ontario is investing more than C$500 million in six aircraft.
• A CL-415EAF conversion program has divided to about US$34 million per aircraft.
• Seasonal readiness can cost millions of dollars per plane before flight charges.

Answers to Common Questions

How much is a new Canadair firefighting plane?

A new DHC-515 is reasonably estimated at US$45 million to US$60 million. Training, spare parts, and support can raise the package price.

How much did Greece pay for its DHC-515 fleet?

Greece approved about US$392 million for seven aircraft, equal to roughly US$56 million per plane when the package is divided by seven.

Can a used Canadair cost less?

Yes. The purchase amount may be lower, but engine work, corrosion repairs, avionics, and scooping-system refurbishment can add substantial spending.

How much does a Canadair cost to operate?

Public figures vary by contract. One vendor comparison uses about US$42,000 per flight hour, while seasonal standby contracts can be worth several million dollars per aircraft.

When will the first Canadair 515 aircraft arrive?

The first flight has been targeted for 2027, with initial customer delivery expected around 2028. Later buyers may face longer waits because of the order backlog.