De Havilland Canada considers reviving the military Sherpa aircraft for defence and fire fighting, supported by interest from the U.S. Forest Service. Feasibility hinges on market demand and costs, with successful past revivals as precedent. The first CL-515s are slated for 2027, possibly followed by the Sherpa revival
By Shreya M
During a recent interview on May 29th, a senior executive from De Havilland Canada disclosed on-going efforts to explore the potential revival of the military variant of the former Short Brothers Sherpa utility aircraft. This endeavor is specifically aimed at catering to the needs of defence and fire fighting sectors. Motivated by the increasing global demand for an aircraft proficient in air drop and para-troop jump missions, the company, headquartered in Calgary, has resolved to delve into the resurrection of this classic regional transport aircraft from the 1960s. Renowned for its distinctive boxy fuselage design and dual vertical stabilizers, the Sherpa holds a unique place in aviation history and is now being considered for a modern-day comeback to meet contemporary operational requirements in the defence and fire fighting domains.
Since initiating the market survey earlier this year, De Havilland has garnered an enthusiastic response from the U.S. Forest Service, which acquired over a dozen former U.S. Army C-23 Sherpas in 2014, according to Neil Sweeney, De Havilland Canada’s vice president for corporate affairs. The Forest Service utilizes the C-23 and other aircraft to transport smokejumpers. Although no timeline has been established for a final decision on the potential revival, Sweeney noted that the company’s standard business case involves assessing potential demand against the nonrecurring restart costs.
“At CANSEC, Sweeney stated, 'If the production run is only 10 units, the answer is likely no. But if it’s 500 units, the answer is probably yes. It all hinges on our recurring costs and what the market can support.'”
This approach has previously been successful with De Havilland and its corporate predecessor, Viking Air, in the revival of the Twin Otter and CL-515. Viking Air acquired the type certificates for the Sherpa family from Bombardier in 2019.
Sweeney mentioned that the first CL-515s could be delivered to customers in 2027. The Sherpa revival is being considered as a subsequent development program.
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