The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said it has temporarily grounded three Turbo Commander 690 aircraft pending a comprehensive safety review. The aircraft, known as bird dog planes, are used to guide airtankers and direct aviation traffic over and near wildfires.
The move follows a fatal crash near Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, last month involving the same aircraft model. Three people on board that aircraft were killed while responding to a wildfire in the area.
SPSA president and fire commissioner Marlo Pritchard said the agency was acting “out of an abundance of caution” and emphasized that the safety of pilots, crews and the public remained its highest priority.
“While these aircraft are critical to our wildfire response operations, we are taking a proactive approach to ensure their continued safety and reliability,” Pritchard said.
Saskatchewan has four other bird dog aircraft available and said it is bringing in additional aircraft from outside the province to minimize disruption to wildfire response operations. Further aircraft will be called in if needed.
