Stamp - Civil Security Canadair - Green Letter

Description

The Civil Security Canadair For decades, the Canadair, also known as the "Pelican" according to its call sign, has left its mark on the landscape. An amphibious aircraft and a red-and-yellow water bomber, the first Canadair became operational in France in 1967, where Catalinas had been used until then (and continued to be used until the 1970s). The CL215, specifically designed for forest fire-fighting missions, was replaced by the CL415 at the end of the 1980s, the model we know today. Since its arrival in the Sécurité Civile fleet, the Canadair has rapidly become indispensable in firefighting, complementing the work of firefighters and rescue services in the field. Since then, it has been joined by other airborne resources: the Tracker in the early 1980s, the Beechcraft in the 1990s, for coordination and reconnaissance operations, and the Dash in 2004, a water or retardant bomber aircraft. Dragon helicopters are also invaluable allies in guiding bomber aircraft and facilitating air-to-ground coordination. France currently has 12 Canadairs, based at the Sécurité Civile base in Nîmes-Garons, Gard. They can be mobilized throughout the country, in the form of seasonal detachments or according to the operational situation. In the context of international solidarity, these aircraft can also be deployed outside France. Impressive in size, color and power, the Canadair is also impressive in terms of the technical prowess of its 40 pilots, who are capable of scooping 6 tonnes of water, over 800 metres, in 12 seconds and at 120 km/h. In one hour, a Canadair can make 6 airdrops. On average, a Canadair flies 270 hours a year, including 140 in fire-fighting operations, and makes 950 airdrops. Julien Marion, Director General of Civil Security and Crisis Management

Legal information

Création Mathieu Persan, d'ap. photo MI/DICOM/J.GROISARD