Conair to fight fire with two Daher TBM 960s
January 21, 2025
International aerial firefighting company Conair is to augment its wildfire-fighting fleet through the purchase of two Daher TBM 960 aircraft, which will be employed as ‘air attack’ lead aircraft.
With its legacy fleet of ‘birddog’ aircraft – aircraft sent ahead of firefighting platforms to provide tactical and strategic assistance – “reaching the end of their lifespans given the demanding conditions they fly in, facing turbulence, heat, smoke, and fluctuating elevations on a continuous basis,” Conair director of business development Mike Benson revealed that it was time for a replacement.
The TBM 960 was selected for its “superior performance, modern design standards, advanced safety features, improved reliability, and strong OEM support by Daher,” elaborated Conair. “These new aircraft offer key advantages for aerial firefighting response. They are fast, keeping pace with large airtankers; can fly low and slow, showing airtankers where to place drops on a wildfire and can be converted in to multi-role platforms”.
Ahead of their entry into service later this year, Conair will retrofit the TBM 960s with specialised equipment for the role. If necessary, the aircraft can also be converted into multi-role platforms if requested by government agency partners, allowing them to map wildfires or offer search and rescue capabilities.
Daher delivered a total of 56 TBM 960s in 2024, including Conair’s first unit, which arrived at the end of October. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-66Xt turboprop, “Daher’s aircraft manufacturing capabilities are backed by the company’s industry-leading logistics services and support for the special mission operator community,” states Daher.
