European startups and designers are moving to develop new or converted water-bomber aircraft as the continent confronts a worsening wildfire threat and an ageing aerial firefighting fleet. In Toulouse, French startup Positive Aviation and engineer Jonathan Beck are advancing an amphibious firefighting concept based on the ATR-72, while other projects are emerging in southern France and Belgium.
The effort comes as nearly 500,000 hectares had burned across Europe this year by early August, intensifying pressure on governments to expand aerial firefighting capacity. Europe’s current fleet relies heavily on long-serving Canadair aircraft, which are scarce and costly to replace, creating momentum for a more sovereign industrial base.
France has already faced scrutiny over the resilience of its firefighting aviation assets, with a parliamentary panel warning of a major crisis in capacity. The wave of new concepts remains at an early stage, however, with no indication of final orders, certification or deliveries yet.