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Aerial firefighting services by the numbers

10

Babcock supported aircraft in Canada

+1,120

firefighting missions since 2021

3,360

firefighting flight hours since 2021

98M+

million litres of water dropped

10

year contract with the Government of Manitoba
Babcock Aircraft Maintenance

What we do

Babcock provides a full range of firefighting services and missions, from customizable services to fully integrated turn-key solutions, including:

  • Water-dropping
  • Firefighter transportation
  • Fire pattern mapping
  • Bird-dog aerial coordination operations
  • Real-time imaging for command and control centres
  • Planned incendiary burning
  • Specialist pilot training
Babcock aerial water bomber dropping water on a wildfire

Unmatched capabilities and experience

Babcock provides fully integrated professional aerial firefighting services, drawing on global experience to deliver solutions tailored for the Canadian environment.

Our highly capable services are underpinned by our own proprietary technology investments and internally delivered mission specialist pilot training. To inform our uniquely Canadian solutions, we draw on wider experience as one of the world’s largest aerial firefighting business.

A leader in aerial firefighting in Canada and around the world

fully integrated professional aerial firefighting services provider
A full range of individual and turnkey services
Supported by proprietary technology solutions

Providing Critical Wildfire Suppression Services to the Province of Manitoba

+1,120 firefighting missions since 2021

3,360 firefighting flight hours since 2021

98M+ liters of water dropped

Babcock CL-415 water bomber and Twin Commander plane beside their crews

Gaining trust and experience in Canada

In Canada, Babcock was honoured with the award of a 10-year contract for aerial wildfire suppression services by the Government of Manitoba. With our capable Western Canadian partners, Babcock is responsible for the management, maintenance, and operation of Manitoba’s fleet of seven amphibious water-bomber aircraft, supported by three Babcock-owned bird-dog aircraft.

Babcock CL-415 dropping water

How we do it

Babcock has operated under nearly every conceivable relationship with our customers.

We plan, operate and fly. We utilize both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. We own our own fleets, and can also lease from our customers, or rent aircraft as needed. Babcock can offer a complete turn-key solution, or work with partner organizations and provide specified elements of a complete solution. Our experience in multiple jurisdictions and environments requires that we remain flexible, and enables us to bring lessons learned and fresh thinking to our customers.

Finally, and importantly, our scale and integrated approach delivers value-for-money.

Standing by to answer your questions

Chris Hodson

Director, Business Development

As a global aviation professional, Chris Hodson has built expertise across both the defense and commercial sectors of the aerospace market. He has worked closely with federal governments, non-governmental organizations and multi-national enterprises in the provision of tailored aviation solutions.

Aerial Firefighting in the Newsroom

Spotlights   |  03/06/2023

Women of Aviation Worldwide Week 2023

This week, March 6th-12th, is Women of Aviation Worldwide Week, a global aviation awareness week observed to mark the anniversary of the world’s first female pilot license. This week serves as not only a call to address gender imbalance in the air and space industry, but also to motivate the industry to assess its current state, celebrate its progresses, and offer women and girls opportunities to explore aviation.
Spotlights   |  12/07/2022

International Civil Aviation Day 2022

To mark International Civil Aviation Day, we sat down with Supreet Singh Garcha, one of Babcock’s talented AMEs, to discuss his career and journey within the civil aviation sector.
Case study   |  03/31/2020

Providing aerial wildfire suppression services to the Province of Manitoba

In the fall of 2018, Babcock was awarded a contract for aerial firefighting by the Government of Manitoba. The Wildfire Suppression Services Contract was issued by the Manitoba Department of Sustainable Development for a period of ten years.