Bombardier gets US$62M order for amphibious planes from Croatian government

Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B) said Thursday that the Croatian government has placed a US$62-million order for two more amphibious firefighting aircraft.

The contract will bring the Croatian fleet of Bombardier 415 planes to six.

The latest sale includes spare parts, pilot training and equipment enabling the aircraft to perform medical evacuations and emergency relief.

"The Bombardier 415 is - by its special design concept - an efficient and highly productive firefighting aircraft and is the reference in the industry," stated Michel Bourgeois, president of Bombardier's amphibious division.

"With the addition of our multipurpose equipment, it has the flexibility to be used for more purposes than fighting fires."

Bombardier has delivered 65 of the amphibious planes to Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Ontario, Quebec and Spain since they entered the market in 1994. Forty-one are in operation in the Mediterranean region and took part in fighting devastating fires in southern Europe last summer, capable of completing up to nine water drops per hour.

In addition, 25 older CL-215 aircraft remain in service fighting fires in Europe.

Bombardier's volatile shares were down 21 cents or 3.8 per cent to $5.31 Thursday afternoon on the Toronto Stock Exchange.