P.E.I. company to market water bombers with Ottawa funding

A P.E.I. company is getting help marketing its water bombers overseas with funding announced by the federal government Saturday.

Tronosjet Maintenance Inc. in Slemon Park has created the world's only jet-powered, 11,356-litre (3,000-gallon) air tanker.

The BAe146 is considered the most advanced land-based fire-fighting tanker in the world.

The Tronos group owns or manages about 20 BAe146 aircraft and recently began a project to convert the airliner to various configurations.

"Innovative companies such as the Tronos group are putting Prince Edward Island on the map," said Allen Roach, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning, in a news release.

"Our government continues to invest into P.E.I.’s aerospace community as it continues to grow and succeed into one of our top industries."

Tronos secured its first launch customer from the U.S. in Montana.

Tronos will be getting almost $100,000 from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to market the tankers in Australia, Europe and South America.

The hope is the funding will help secure additional contracts, which may result in further production and employment increases.

The company has received about $650,000 from the federal and provincial governments.