Texas-Based Air Tractor’s Amphibious Scooper Air Tanker Selected by Cargolux for Aerial Firefighting Endeavor
wpadmin 
By: Barry Grable
The AT-802F Fire Boss from Onley, Texas-based Air Tractor, described as an amphibious scooper air tanker, has been chosen by Cargolux for a reported investment of $72 million. The cargo airline, headquartered in Luxembourg, has refrained from commenting on speculations about its foray into aerial firefighting, an initiative aimed at contributing to climate change mitigation.
The context for this potential expansion is the escalating intensity and duration of wildfires across Europe, particularly in the southern regions. This has led to an urgent demand for increased aerial water tanker capabilities.
The AT-802F Fire Boss, hailed by Air Tractor as unparalleled in its agility, tempo, and effectiveness in tackling wildland/urban interface fires, is at the center of Cargolux’s alleged diversification strategy. Despite the airline’s silence, a spokesperson from a labor union within Cargolux revealed that the decision was made by the airline’s board of directors without consultation with the unions.
Details regarding the delivery timeline for the firefighting aircraft remain uncertain. However, RTL Today’s report indicates Cargolux’s intention to participate in tenders across Europe in the coming year.
Acting Minister for Mobility and Transport François Bausch, as quoted in the report, highlighted Cargolux’s strategic move to diversify. In light of Europe’s urgent need for additional resources to combat forest fires, the decision to venture into aerial firefighting is seen as a noteworthy pursuit.
The increased frequency of wildfires in Europe, exemplified by the devastating events on the Greek island of Rhodes during peak tourist season in July, underscores the critical demand for firefighting capabilities. The EU itself has invested in up to a dozen additional firefighting aircraft, resembling the ‘Canadair’ type, with a price tag of around €30 million each. These aircraft, capable of scooping up water to tackle blazes, are slated to be stationed in Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. However, due to production relaunch delays, they are not expected to be available until 2027.
Cargolux’s timely diversification into aerial firefighting, given the scarcity of available capacity, is anticipated to be a lucrative move for the airline.
