A next-generation water bomber built from a proven regional airliner could enter service by 2029, promising to outmatch the legendary Canadair CL-415 just as wildfire seasons turn catastrophic across Europe. Airbus will assemble the first amphibious float for the project, a critical step toward converting the ATR 72 turboprop into a frontline firefighting machine.
The push comes as France alone recorded nearly 11,000 wildfires by mid-July, consuming over 35,000 hectares. That figure already exceeded the total area burned during the entire 2025 summer season. Meanwhile, production of the CL-415 ended a decade ago, leaving operators with aging fleets and few modern alternatives. De Havilland Canada’s DHC-515 successor faces delays, with initial deliveries not expected before 2028.
French startup Positive Aviation leads the conversion program, called the FF72. Rather than designing a clean-sheet aircraft, the company chose to adapt the widely deployed ATR 72 platform. Airbus will manufacture the first float assembly to validate the amphibious configuration before a full demonstrator begins testing.
The performance numbers tell a compelling story. The FF72 will carry 8,000 liters of water, a substantial jump over the CL-415’s capacity of roughly 6,140 liters. Its scooping system can ingest up to eight tonnes of water in under 12 seconds, then release the payload in a rapid salvo lasting approximately 1.2 seconds. The aircraft handles both water and fire retardant, operates at night, and features improved stability in crosswinds and rough water.
Leveraging an existing certified airframe delivers a major advantage. Roughly 80 percent of the airframe and 90 percent of onboard systems stay unchanged. That cuts development risk while giving operators access to ATR’s global maintenance network. The float system itself is designed to be interchangeable, reducing downtime during repairs.
Price could prove decisive. Positive Aviation targets roughly €40 million for a new-build FF72 and around €32 million for conversions using second-hand ATR 72s. Company President Laurent Schmitt sees a global market of approximately 400 aircraft, spanning nations with limited aerial firefighting resources: Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Ecuador, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and several Mediterranean countries.
France operates just 12 CL-415s, many with decades of accumulated service. A 2025 government assessment found the country may need 20 additional aerial firefighting aircraft by 2040. Demand across southern and eastern Europe, from Spain to the Baltic states, continues to climb.
Positive Aviation’s timeline remains ambitious. A demonstrator flies first, followed by the initial production aircraft in 2028, six units in 2029, and twelve annually from 2030 onward. Alongside the FF72, another Toulouse-based startup, Hynaero, is developing the clean-sheet Frégate F-100 with a 10-tonne water scooping capacity. Together, both programs signal Europe’s determination to build sovereign firefighting capability as seasons grow longer and more destructive.
