The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)
SOREM to operate the Italian Canadair fire-fighters
In 1987 SISAM reached an agreement with the Italian Forest Ministry and the Civil Protection Department to operate their fleets, formed now by half a dozen Canadair CL-215/415s and some helicopters.
The contract expired at the end of 1997 and, due to a lower tender, the small air-work operator SOREM, formed in 1959 for hail-prevention activity, signed a new one with the two State agencies, with operations starting from 1st February 1998 on.
Of course the take-over of the flight activity has been critical and some forest fires in Italy, occurred during the first days of February, were doomed by rented French Canadair CL-215s.
SISAM (Società Italiana Servizi Aerei Mediterranei) was created - 60% Alitalia e 40% Alenia, both State owned - to satisfy the firefighting needs in Italy, offering the operational and technical experience of the shareholders. In the meantime, SISAM bought a couple of CL-215s to enhance its capabilities.
In the picture: Canadair CL-415 I-DPCQ (call-sign "Canadair 12") operated by SISAM, in Autumn 1997
