| General information | |
|---|---|
| Type | Firefighting aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Canadair Bombardier Aerospace De Havilland Canada |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary users | Vigili del Fuoco (Italy)Sécurité Civile (France) Hellenic Air Force (Greece) Quebec Service aérien gouvernemental |
| Number built | 95 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | CL-415: 1993–2015 / DHC-515: 2022–present |
| Introduction date | 1994 |
| First flight | 6 December 1993 |
| Developed from | Canadair CL-215 |

Development of the CL-415 began in the early 1990s, shortly after the success of the CL-215T retrofit programme had proven a viable demand for a turboprop-powered model of the original CL-215. Entering production in 2003, in addition to its new engines, the aircraft featured numerous modernisation efforts and advances over the CL-215, particularly in terms of its cockpit and aerodynamics, to yield improved performance. By the time the programme's production phase had begun, it was owned by Bombardier, who continued production up until 2015. In October 2016, the CL-415 programme was acquired by Viking Air, aiming to produce an updated CL-515 since renamed the DHC-515 Firefighter, and to be produced in Calgary, Alberta, by De Havilland Canada
The CL-415 has an updated cockpit, aerodynamics enhancements and changes to the water-release system as well, creating a modern firefighting amphibious flying boat for use in detecting and suppressing forest fires. Compared to the CL-215, the CL-415 has increased operating weight and speed, yielding improved productivity and performance. Due to the increased power of its pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprop engines, each capable of generating up to 1,775 kW of thrust, these are located closer to the fuselage in comparison to the CL-215's arrangement. While this repositioning would typically reduce lateral stability on its own, this is rectified via the addition of an inverted fixed leading edge slat forward of the righthand horizontal stabiliser. Furthermore, winglets have been adopted on this model for the purpose of improving directional stability
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During December 2018, a full-flight CL-415 simulator, capable of simulating water scoop and bombing operations, received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification. Prior to this, pilot training had typically involved live flying of the aircraft.
Derived from its predecessor's nickname, the aircraft has acquired the name "Super Scooper"
By 1999, a total of 51 orders had been secured for the type; operators have reportedly predominantly used the CL-415 for firefighting and maritime search and rescue purposes