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The Government of Saskatchewan says its new air tanker will strengthen the province’s ability to respond to wildfires and other emergencies.
The brand-new Dash-8 Q400 Multi-Role Emergency Response aircraft was unveiled Tuesday morning in Regina, but it will ultimately be based in La Ronge as part of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s air fleet.
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While the aircraft is equipped to drop up to 10,000 litres of water or fire-retardant chemicals onto a wildfire, the cabin can be reconfigured to serve multiple roles. Michael Weger, the province’s community safety minister, said the new aircraft lives up to its name, offering versatility that will improve the province’s responses to multiple types of emergencies.
The cockpit of Saskatchewan’s first Dash-8 Q400 Multi-Role Emergency Response aircraft. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)
“The Dash 8-Q400MRE combines the firefighting capability of a modern airtanker with the flexibility of a passenger, cargo, evacuation and medical transport aircraft, making it one of the most versatile emergency response aircraft in service today,” Weger said in a statement.
“The addition of this aircraft to the fleet will strengthen the province’s capacity to respond quickly and effectively to wildfires and emergency events, protecting communities across Saskatchewan.”
The aircraft can be configured to function as an airtanker, or to transport passengers or cargo. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)
Saskatchewan is the first jurisdiction in the country to make use of this model of aircraft, the provincial government noted. The public safety agency is currently working with Transport Canada to establish the operating specifications and programs needed to integrate the airtanker into the province’s fleet. Meanwhile, the induction, training and certification to prepare the aircraft for service are also underway.
“While the aircraft is certified for wildfire operations, some limitations on its multirole capabilities are expected during its initial introduction to service next year,” the Saskatchewan government noted.
The province said it plans to retire one of its CV580 airtankers now that the replacement has arrived, adding that its air operations fleet will “be well positioned for the 2027 wildfire season.”
The new aircraft offers better fuel efficiency than other airtanker models, the province noted, and emits roughly 30 per cent less carbon than planes of a similar size. It can accommodate 64 passengers, 9,000 kilograms of cargo, or six stretchers and the associated medical equipment and clinical team. Other configurations allow for a combination of passenger and cargo transportation.
The new aircraft can transport up to 64 passengers or 9,000 kilograms of cargo. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)
The new plane has a cruising speed of 660 km/h and a range of 1,160 kilometres when fully loaded, the provincial government added.
“Designed to be far more than a traditional airtanker, the Dash-8 Q400MRE is a highly versatile asset due to its ability to quickly switch between wildfire suppression and emergency response missions,” Marlo Pritchard, the public safety agency’s president and fire commissioner, said in a statement.
“It provides a year-round emergency management asset, rather than an aircraft used only during wildfire season. This aircraft has the ability to support fire suppression in the summer, emergency evacuations and transportation or medevac missions when required throughout the year.”
NDP says new aircraft is late to the party
The Saskatchewan NDP says the aircraft was supposed to arrive in the province in August, accusing the government of a “complete failure to protect Saskatchewan communities.”
The Opposition said the government is demanding praise for the new addition to its air fleet, despite its arrival after this year’s wildfire season.
“Once again, we see the Sask. Party throwing themselves a parade after showing up late. What Northerners see is failure after failure from this provincial government,” NDP MLA Jordan McPhail said in a statement.
“This aircraft was announced in 2024 and was supposed to be here in the summer. It was supposed to be ready to fight wildfires and protect communities and first responders. Why is it showing up at the start of winter? This is yet another proof point that the Sask. Party is totally in over its head when it comes to public safety.”
