Incredible Water Drop training! Conair Aviation Dash 8-400 (DH8D) action in Abbotsford (YXX/CYXX)

I have only seen the CL-215 do water drops during airshows so being able to see the newest generation of aerial firefighters do water drop training runs was really cool to see. Conair is one of Canada's largest aerial firefighting company's with a unique fleet including the Dash 8-400AT.
Conair Aviation is an aerial firefighting company that operates a wide range of aircraft including a fleet of 17 Dash 8-400 that are used to battle wildfires. With the wild fire season just around the corner, Conair like many
aerial firefighting Groups have been busy training; the missions here were water drops over the runways at Abbotsford Airport.
These drops were practicing dropping fire retardant over active fires. It was very interesting to see these Aerial firefighters at work!
Conair and Sécurité Civile (of France) are the only 2 operators of the Dash 8
for aerial firefighting purposes. The Q400MT is the most modern aerial firefighting aircraft in the world making
it an ideal aircraft to fight the growing wildfire problem which affects Canada every summer. The Dash 8 has made a name for itself for being a rugged aircraft able to perform to challenging conditions which makes it an ideal aircraft for firefighting.
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ATC Included!
Airport: Abbotsford Intl airport - YXX / CYXX
Airline: Conair Aviation
Aircraft: Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 (DH8D) / Air Tractor AT-802 (AT8T)
Flight: FGD548 / FGD678
Callsign: Fireguard 548 / 678
Registration: C-FFZX 🇨🇦 / C-FXVF 🇨🇦
Date: April 27 2024
This is not your video, please do not use, download or re-publish without my permission or consent.
© CYUL Plane Spotter / © Mark Brandon
All rights reserved Mark Brandon 2024

[@daledyck3520]

Just got to love those Pratt & Whitney Canada powered aircraft working hard. So cool!

[@Chuck59ish]

I remember 30 years ago when Conair had C-54s, A-26s, and was trying to convert the ex-RCAF Trackers into FireCats, but that didn't work out. It good to see the new fleet of aircraft that can get the job done. When I was with 1 CER at CFB Chilliwack, we were called out couple of times to fire forest fires, it's hard, dirty, dangerous work on the ground, fight the big fires from the air is the best way, and fire season has already started and I hope all the firefighters, in the air and on the ground stay safe, and come home at the end of the season.

[@slotcarpalace]

actually they were DC-6's

[@Chuck59ish]

@@slotcarpalace Yes, you're right, after all it was over 30 years ago now. And I forgot the Avengers and the CV-580s.

They had tons of firecats in service, every summer you could hear them coming and going to fires on the south coast that were too small for the mars

[@Adriatic1290]

@@slotcarpalacewas just about to say that

[@Adriatic1290]

Buffalo Airways has C-54s Conair had DC-6s

[@trob1731]

I live in Sumas, Wa., just south of Abbotsford. I see Conair planes all the time practicing, and departing to and returning from water drop missions. I'm thankful for the service they provide as Washington also needs their services frequently these days. Good video.

[@kenharrison401]

Fantastic footage, great to see the Dash 8 in action.

[@rickbrown7067]

That’s a great use of a q400. Horizon Air has 3 parked by a hanger in Portland Oregon. If you need more..

[@flyingtigerline]

Beautiful plane.

[@peterhanssens7260]

Thanks Mark, good Canadian know how. Lots of work that starts now, no doubt, Fort Nelson right here in B.C.

[@jimh3191]

Good Video, Conair is actually the largest privately owned arial firefighting company in the world, and with the largest fleet. They have worked with Sécurité Civile Government of France sinse the 1980's, as France has previously purchased numerous Firecat Turbo models for their tanker fleet over the years. I think much of their training has now moved into their own simulator, unlike in the past when only hands on arial training was the norm. Harrison Lake was a regular spot, and i also viewed in the Chilliwack River valley on occation, always busy in the spring tuning up for the summer fire season. They have been working in Austraiia in recient years aswell, and have purchased I believe an Idaho based water bomber company. Conair's late Chairman, also built and developed the large maintanance hanger at the south east side of the Abbotsford airport, this was Cascade Aerospace ltd, a Boeing 737 and Lockheed Hercules maintance/overhaul facility. The hanger was built to hold four 737 aircraft at a time, the business was sold several years back to the large eastern Canadian overhaul and maintance compny IMP Group.

Abby is also a Lockheed authorized repair facility for Hercules aircraft and does extensive service work with the RCAF and USMC

[@cobwob]

Those are going to be the best irrigated grapes in all of BC.

[@kenbarthSimAV8tor]

It's going to be a bad wildfire season eh! Stay safe everyone ❤

[@viperq]

Some of these Q400 tankers are also in the U.S.

[@unkameatgoodbar2315]

See these alot...om put in east maple ridge

[@camileshakakeesic4421]

Most of them were sent to Manitoba help with fires northern communitie flin flon MB

[@MarcvanExel]

What is the capacity of this aircraft? Great footage btw!

[@dtoften]

10,000 litres (2,640 US gallons)

[@MarcvanExel]

@@dtoften Thanks mate!

[@YBGSpotting]

Where do you spotted this q400 water bomber

[@leezinke4351]

Are they Ex Horizon Air??