Manitoba’s water bomber fleet is getting $1.6 million in safety upgrades along with new radios.

The upgrades include a water door warning system on the four provincially owned CL-415 water bombers to reduce risk when the planes are scooping water with a partially open door. The three CL-215s in the fleet will get new radios in order for them to be compatible with the new provincial public safety communications network.

Part of the funding will also be spent on the construction of two 12-person bunkhouses at the Wekusko Falls initial attack base. That base supports northern wildfire operations.

The province noted that over the past three years $4.1 million has been spent on the water bomber fleet for communications, technology and safety upgrades.

Manitoba’s water bomber fleet is maintained and operated by a private sector company, Babcock Canada Inc.

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