European startups are pushing new water-bombing aircraft into wildfire response as demand rises across the continent, with prototype work centred in Toulouse, France. Positive Aviation is developing the ATR 72-based FF72, a design intended to carry 8 tonnes of water, while Kepplair is testing an ATR 72-based ground-loaded tanker and Hynaero is advancing the Fregate-F100 scooper with capacity for 10 tonnes.
The momentum comes as nearly 500,000 hectares have burned across Europe this year, intensifying pressure on ageing aerial firefighting fleets and widening interest in alternatives to the long-established Canadair amphibious aircraft built by De Havilland Canada. Engineers and founders in the sector face a narrow pool of seaplane certification expertise, which has historically slowed new entrants and left the field dominated by a small number of established platforms.
De Havilland Canada is also developing a new version of the Canadair, meaning the challenge to the incumbent is arriving alongside its own replacement programme. Reuters reported the prototype work in a disused turboprop aircraft in Toulouse, where Jonathan Beck, Positive Aviation’s design chief, presented the company’s concept as Europe looks for more modern firefighting options.