To cope with the devastating fire in Aude, France is mainly based on its Canadair fleet: in total, Twelve devices are officially available, nine have been deployed in the field in the department. One copy had a major accident at the start of the season and another remains assigned to risk areas such as Corsica or the South West. As the Lieutenant – Colonel Frédéric Harrault explains, the civil security carrier, in BFMTV: “Canadair, yellow and red, can scoop – fill their tank by touching water – and rotate very fast by going to get water in the sea or in lakes to drop 6000 liters of water simultaneously on areas».
Other planes complete this force. Les Dash‑8 Q400larger, have a higher capacity: they drop up to 10,000 liters of water Or delay, but cannot scop: they must arise to recharge, in water or delaying product, on sites equipped with Pélicandrome. Added to this are airlines, smaller (3,000 liters) and water bombers: light (1,000 liters) or heavy (4,000 liters). The fleet is completed by trois Beechcraft dedicated to recognition missions.
A device under tension despite the reinforcements
In the summer of 2025, the state rented 16 additional devices (10 helicopters and 6 planes, including air lectures) to strengthen the system, especially in the southwest and lunch, sectors at very high risk. But as the world recalls, the outsourced maintenance at Sabena Technics is enamelled by tensions, strikes, and an average aging of Canadair over 25 years old. More recent devices, such as Dash, do not cover the whole need, and costly palliative solutions are set up via private rentals.
The plan announced in 2022 by Emmanuel Macron, however, promised a gradual renewal of the fleet, with the purchase of new Canadair (DHC – 515) to reach 16 aircraft. But the first deliveries are only expectedfrom 2028or even beyond, because the production channels had to be relaunched from zero.
