How much water could the CL-215 carry in one pass?

Short answer

5400 or 5450 litres of water, according to different sources (according to different sources), held in two belly tanks. The Canadian Encyclopedia speaks of more than 5000 litres scooped in 10 seconds while skimming the water's surface, and of a drop on the fire in under a second.

Published: November 6, 2026 · Updated: November 6, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

How much water could the CL-215 carry in one pass?

Brooker Mt Fire Suppression, Denali NP, 2013, NPS photo by Stacey Skrivanek

An amphibian against fire

The CL-215 was designed to fight forest fires by dropping water. It first flew in October 1969. Production ended in 1989.

How much water

Its water-dropping capacity is 5400 or 5450 litres, according to different sources (according to different sources), held in two tanks housed in the belly; in the passenger version it seats up to 26 forward-facing passengers. The Canadian Encyclopedia states that it can scoop more than 5000 litres of water in 10 seconds while skimming the surface. Other technical data sheets give values of between 5345 and 5455 litres: part of the difference comes from converting the capacity from US gallons (about 1412) or imperial gallons (about 1200).

Loading and unloading

Water enters the tanks quickly while the aircraft glides over a body of water, through rotating aluminum scoops designed for this purpose. The bottom of each tank is formed by large downward-facing doors that open to release the water quickly over the chosen area. The tanks can be emptied at the same time, one at a time, or in sequence, at the pilot's choice. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, the aircraft drops its load on the fire in under a second.