According to Benoît Quennepoix, pilot and general secretary of the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel, only “half of the Canadair fleet” is available in France.
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French Canadairs face “a big maintenance problem”, “for many years”, denounces Benoît Quennepoix, pilot and general secretary of the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPNAC), on franceinfo, Tuesday August 20, after the fire in Frontignan, in Hérault. According to him, only “Half of the Canadair fleet is available”that is, six out of 12 devices. “On the day of the Frontignan fire, we had five Canadairs on this site, fortunately, we did not have another fire”he emphasizes.
This situation “catastrophic” arises from a “lack of staff at the company that handles maintenance, Sabena Technics”specifies Benoît Quennepoix. “We really need enough manpower to properly maintain our planes”the pilot continues. According to him, “there was a social movement” at Sabena Technics “at the start of the season, when the mechanics were denouncing their working conditions.” The unionist deplores the “failures which sometimes jeopardize the very safety of flights and crews.”
In October 2022, Emmanuel Macron promised to replace the 12 French Canadairs by 2027. On August 12, the resigning Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin confirmed the order for two new Canadair DHC 515s. “very good signal”according to Benoît Quennepoix, who specifies that currently “there is no device available for purchase on the market”The arrival of these two devices is planned for 2028.
The Secretary General of SNPNAC hopes “additional aircraft orders quickly to renew our aircraft and increase the fleet to 16 aircraft”. What is essential “to deal with the increase in fires linked to climate change”, according to him.
