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Cascade to provide Viking firefighter conversion for Longview

Longview Aviation Capital of Victoria, British Columbia, reached an agreement with Cascade Aerospace of Abbotsford, British Columbia, to provide training and resources in support of the Viking CL-415EAF Enhanced Aerial Firefighter conversion program. The deal was signed in cooperation with Viking Air Ltd.{gallery}15815{/gallery}


August 10, 2018  By Wings Staff

Longview explains its selection of Cascade, an operating unit of IMP Aerospace & Defence, for the conversion program is based in part on Cascade’s previous experience converting nine Canadair CL-215 firefighting aircraft to a CL-215T turbine configuration for the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The initial Viking CL-415EAF turbine conversion will be conducted at Cascade’s facilities at the Abbotsford International Airport. It is scheduled to begin shortly in September 2018. Cascade will provide training to Longview observers during this initial conversion and will then send support staff to provide on-site training at Longview’s facilities in Calgary, Alberta, for the second and subsequent CL-415EAF conversions.



“We’re confident [Cascade’s] proven track record as a 214/415 centre of excellence converting Canadair CL-215 aircraft to turbine configuration will contribute to the on-time delivery of the initial CL-415EAF Enhanced Aerial Firefighter,” said David Curtis, chairman of Longview. “This is a complex modification, and their expertise will lend itself to the development of the broader conversion program as a whole.”

Longview describes the CL-415EAF as the next generation of the world’s only purpose-built aerial firefighter and multi-mission amphibious platform. The CL-415EAF turbine conversion program is based on the Canadair CL-215T configuration, and encompasses installation of two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW 123AF turboprop engines, integration of a new digital avionics suite, installation of six new aircraft structures (including winglets and finlets), upgraded power-assist flight controls, installation of a new power distribution system along with complete rewiring of the aircraft, and incorporation of 75 Service Bulletins associated with the CL-215T conversion kit.

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“I’m enthusiastic that Cascade can offer Longview and Viking, two Western Canadian companies, the advantages we’ve developed over hundreds of thousands of hours of experience working on CL-215 aircraft,” said Kevin Lemke, executive vice president and COO of Cascade Aerospace. “We’ve enjoyed many years of successful collaboration with Viking over the years on other programs and look forward to many more on this specialized Canadian platform.”

To initiate the conversion program, Longview is hiring up to 150 technical and support staff members at its Calgary facilities, where 11 specially selected CL-215 aircraft will undergo modification to CL-415EAF configuration utilizing Viking-supplied conversion kits.

The turbine conversion kits will be developed and produced at Viking’s facilities at the Victoria International Airport, where Viking has already hired 50 employees in support of the program.

The Viking CL-415EAF conversion program forms part of a staged approach to utilize the advancements made with the Longview converted aircraft as the basis for the proposed Viking CL-515 new-production amphibious aerial firefighting aircraft.

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