Fire Boss LLC, part of the Wipaire company, is sending technology to Europe to help combat wildfires. The company is the designer and manufacturer of the Fire Boss water scooping system installed exclusively on the Air Tractor AT-802. The system allows the single-engine air tanker to scoop up approximately 800 gallons in 15 seconds.
Fire Boss will be sending 31 of the units to Air Tractor Europe, with delivery beginning in 2024 and extending through 2026. The deal was made during the recent Aerial Firefighting Europe conference in Athens, Greece.
“We believe the Fire Boss’ outstanding performance, coupled with Air Tractor Europe’s operational expertise, will greatly enhance wildfire suppression efforts,” said Chuck Wiplinger, president and CEO of Wipaire. “This order further solidifies the long-standing partnership between our two companies and their commitment to providing safe and fast aerial support, spanning Europe.”
In addition to owning Fire Boss, Wipaire is the No. 1 manufacturer of aircraft floats in the world.
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“We are thrilled to announce our contract for 31 Fire Boss [units],” said Vicente Huerta, president of Air Tractor Europe (ATE). “In addition to this multiyear order, ATE has purchased over 80 sets of floats for the European market. As we look ahead, the threat of wildfires is year-round. It is vital we create a fleet that can support our new reality.”
Air Tractor Europe, established in 1965, is the exclusive Air Tractor distributor for Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The company has served as an Air Tractor dealer since October 1996. In addition to providing aerial operations, aircraft maintenance, and aircraft procurement, the company has an EASA Part 147 training center, preparing pilots for land and amphibious operations using a Level 2 flight training device (FTD).
