The Department of Transportation is working on getting a new Chief Pilot in place for the province’s water bomber fleet.

The former Chief Pilot resigned last week.

Minister Barry Petten says they were hoping to fill the position this week, but they are still working on it.

“We were hoping to have someone in place yesterday,” says Petten, and while they are working through some issues, they’re optimistic that they’re “going to solve this problem.”

He says the province has been in conversation with Transport Canada and they’re not at risk of having their water bomber fleet grounded.”

Meanwhile, the province says water bomber coverage for the 2026 forest fire season has been activated in Labrador where the weather is currently warm and dry, with two CL-415 tankers in place in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.