Before an aircraft in British Columbia drops water on a wildfire or crews attack flames from the ground, a pilot like Rob Verstraten gets there first. “We size up the fire to see what terrain and hazards we have to deal with,” Verstraten said. He flies in one of two new TBM 960 Air Attack planes from Conair Aerial Firefighting, known as “birddogs,” alongside a provincial air attack officer. Together, they orchestrate the aerial response to a wildfire. It’s a crucial role, according to Conair’s director of business development. “Without a strong birddog team your operation won’t be safe, effective, or efficient,” said Michael Benson said. Benson says the two new birddogs are the most modern in the world, and cost roughly $10 million based on the purchase price paid by Conair and modifications to maximize their effectiveness at fighting fires. The installed technology includes advanced weather sensors and infrared cameras.