‘Super Scooper’ Aircraft

We at Canadair who manufacture the “Super Scooper” firefighting aircraft are very pleased that the County of Los Angeles has embarked on a five-year program of leasing the CL-215Ts to assist in combating wildfires during the critical fall portion of the fire season. As you noted, the success of the two-year evaluation resulted in the county’s decision to commit to this technology. And it would be our hope that the “Super Scoopers” will eventually be a full-time part of Southern California’s firefighting arsenal.

However, we are concerned by your June 28 editorial comments stating that the aircraft has been “plagued” over questions of its performance in rugged terrain and windy conditions and that the accuracy of the drops was “particularly problematic.” Such comments are certainly in contrast with the “successful” results of the evaluation that met or exceeded all the objectives set by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. As expressed by Fire Department pilots, the effectiveness of aerial resources, whether fixed wing or rotary wing, is limited under high-wind conditions. It is simply a matter of physics, not a “plague.”

As to the precision of the drops, I would refer you to the City of Industry fire where both “Super Scoopers” were dispatched at dusk. One aircraft made a pinpoint foam drop that protected a house that was being threatened while the second aircraft basically controlled the fire with one drop, thereby minimizing the risk and lessening the task for the firefighters on the ground. To my knowledge, the accuracy of the drops was not an issue and the pilots were quite adept at hitting targets that were identified for them by personnel on the ground.

RAYMOND MATHIEU

Director of Marketing

Canadair, Montreal