External reinforcements for the Spanish 'Corsairs' of the 43rd Group due to the wave of fires

Spain is experiencing one of the worst waves of wildfires in its history, especially in the regions of Galicia and Castile and León.

The Spanish firefighting aircraft of the 43rd Group seen in detail inside and out
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The 43rd Group of the Spanish Air Force has 14 amphibious aircraft (10 Canadair CL-215T and 4 CL-415). One of the main missions of this unit, whose pilots are known as the "Corsarios" (Corsairs) is to fight fires, thanks to the ability of its aircraft to load water into reservoirs, rivers and coastal areas. Today the Spanish Air Force has published a video showing the work of these "Corsairs" against the current wave of fires, during which the 43rd Group has already accumulated more than 375 flight hours and 1,077 discharges:

In addition to these military assets, the government hires private aircraft (both helicopters and aerial tractors) as reinforcements each year, a fleet that has been reduced this year, due to the lack of general state budgets due to the lack of parliamentary support for Pedro Sánchez's government.

Two French CL-415s of the Sécurité Civile

As a result, and after receiving a request from the communities affected by the fires, on August 13 the Spanish government activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, announcing the arrival of two French "tanker aircraft" (in the words of the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska) with a capacity of 5,500 liters each (above these lines we can see one of the French aircraft, on the right, flying next to a Spanish CL-215T, the 43-25).

In reality, the aircraft sent by France are not tankers (this term is used in aeronautical terms for air-to-air refueling aircraft), but Canadair CL-415 amphibious aircraft like those of the 43 Group, specifically the F-ZBFV (37) and the F-ZBFV (38), both with civil registrations. We can see here several photos of these aircraft published by the Sécurité Civile on August 14.

Unlike Spain, France regulates its CL-415s within a civil organization, the General Directorate of Civil Security and Crisis Management, which reports to the Ministry of the Interior.

The Sécurité Civile, as it is known for short, has 45 helicopters (all Airbus EC-145 model) and 21 fixed-wing aircraft (12 CL-415, 6 Bombardier Dash 8 and 3 Beechcraft Super King Air 200), spread across a total of 23 bases. The helicopters are grouped within the Groupement des Helicopteres de la Sécurité Civile (Civil Security Helicopter Group), while the fixed-wing aircraft are grouped within the Groupement des Avions Bombardiers d'Eau (Water Bomber Aircraft Group).

Two Italian CL-415 of the Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco

On the other hand, this Saturday afternoon the Spanish Air Force announced the arrival of two Italian amphibious aircraft, which have also been mobilized through the European Civil Protection Mechanism. The aircraft are already at the Matacán Air Base (Salamanca). "Starting tomorrow, they will join the efforts of our 43rd Group and will operate in those areas where their intervention is most urgent."

The planes sent by Italy are CL-415, the I-DPCY (20) and the I-DPCR (31). Like the French Sécurité Civile planes, these Italian planes also have civil registrations, since they depend on a civil body, the Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco (National Fire Brigade), dependent on the Public Security Department of the Ministry of the Interior.

Italy acquired 22 CL-415s, of which 18 are currently still in service, after 4 aircraft were lost in as many accidents in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2022. Currently the Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco is the largest operator of the CL-415 in the world. These aircraft are owned by the Italian Republic, but their operation and maintenance are assigned to a private company: Avincis.

A special feature of these Italian CL-415s is the black radome on the nose, which houses a Honeywell Primus 660 WX weather radar, an improvement that the Spanish and French CL-415s do not have. As a Spaniard, I want to express my gratitude to our neighbors in France and Italy for this great help: Merci! Grazie!

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Main photo: Elentir. Rest of the photos: Sécurité Civile / Ejército del Aire.