Canadairs in Continuous Operation: Risky Water Pickups and Low-Flying Maneuvers Against Summer Fires

France - 06.07.2026: The images of recent days — smoke over Mediterranean forests, choppy seas and tight landing zones — have revealed a daily reality lived by aerial firefighting pilots. In several Départements, especially in the south of the country, large areas have burned in the past 48 hours; prefectures and the national Sécurité civile have repeatedly deployed Canadairs, Dash aircraft and helicopters to protect settlements and prevent spread. The operations are characterized by extreme proximity to the danger zone: pilots often fly only a few dozen meters above treetops ...