A new fleet and two additional aircraft. The Senate voted this Friday for additional means of fighting forest fires, mainly to renew the Canadair fleet, as Emmanuel Macron promised after the summer fires.
As part of the first reading examination of the “Securities” appropriations, the senators approved a government amendment to the 2023 draft budget, providing 240 million euros to “commit” the order for 12 aircraft to replace the existing fleet, and finance two additional aircraft.
This is just a first stretch, before additions in subsequent years. The special rapporteur Jean-Pierre Vogel (LR) highlighted that “the production line has just been launched”, questioning a possible delivery for 2027, as announced.
Eventually, the civil security fleet will include 16 water bomber planes, including two planes funded in particular through the European Union.
New water bomber helicopters
Also validated, another government amendment provides for an increase in the number of rental water bomber helicopters, for 5 million euros in 2023.
“At this stage, we remain in the rental system,” the Delegate Minister for Communities Caroline Cayeux told the senators.
At the end of October, Emmanuel Macron unveiled a plan to strengthen the resources of the departments and civil protection, while the renewal of the fleet was awaited in particular by the French National Federation of Firefighters.
The senators also approved, against the advice of the Government, aid for the clearing of rural municipalities, but this measure could not be retained in the parliamentary shuttle.
Source: BFM TV
