Features Aerial Firefighting
Static Display set for Oct. 26 Aerial Firefighting Conference at Abbotsford International

The second annual Aerial Firefighting Conference is set to take place at the Abbotsford International Airport, CYXX. As the second largest airport in the Lower Mainland, after Vancouver International Airport, YXX stamps the power of Canadian aviation around the globe through two of its world-class tenants Cascade Aerospace and Conair Group.

A pioneer in adapting jet aircraft into air tankers, Conair is a world leader in aerial firefighting and fire management. The company is the Platinum Sponsor of this year’s Aerial Firefighting Conference on October 26, 2021, which is scheduled be one of the first live aviation conferences to be held in Canada since the Covid-19 pandemic began in March 2020. Last year’s Aerial Firefighting Conference was held virtually.

In accordance with provincial health restrictions, attendee space is limited for the second annual Aerial Firefighting Conference – register today.

YXX is also home to Airside Event Spaces, which is providing the location for this year’s Aerial Firefighting Conference in partnership with WINGS and HELICOPTERS magazines. Space is limited to follow strict health guidelines outlined by the province’s health department. All attendees must be fully vaccinated and provide vaccine passports to attend the conference. Airside is led by Kayla and Tylor English, who created the business to operate out of a private hangar measuring close to 5,000 square feet. This unique event space provides ramp access for attendees.

Building on the strengths of holding a physical aviation show, this year’s one-day Aerial Firefighting Conference is to include a Static Display with at least five leading firefighting aircraft, including Conair’s Dash 8-400AT and Fire Boss for fixed-wing operators. For rotary-wing operators, the event is scheduled to display an Airbus H145, Bell 505 and Bell 407GXi, with pilots and suppliers on hand to discuss innovations, investments and strategies. A massive Conair RJ85 air tanker might also be on display depending on ramp availability on the day.

The one-day Aerial Firefighting Conference will include five educational sessions and a number of shorter case-study presentations focusing on essential information for operators and fire agencies. The event features a range of sponsors and exhibitors, listed here alphabetically: Andres Welding, Airbus, ATEQ and Cobra Aviation, Bell, Conair, Erickson, Flying Colours, IQonboard, Kadex, SEI Industries, Select Helicopters, Spidertracks, Western Propeller, Viking Air.