The first of the four airtankers is expected to arrive in late summer of 2025, with the remaining aircraft set to arrive by the end of 2027.

As transformational leaders work with their employees to implement effective change, they rely on things like communication, charisma, adaptability and empathetic support. In practice, this leadership style comprises four primary elements:

The Dash 8-Q400AT is equipped with Conair’s proprietary Retardant Delivery System – an external tank with a 10,000-litre capacity, capable of dropping retardant, water, or foam/gel. The Q400MRE has a similar, but slightly reduced, tank capacity of 9,274 litres.

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In recent years, transformational leadership has risen to the surface. Organizations in all industries are seeing rapid change in today’s digital era. Transformational leaders know how to encourage, inspire and motivate employees to perform in ways that create meaningful change.

According to a news release, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has purchased four De Havilland Canada-built Dash 8-400 aircraft, which are to be converted into airtankers by B.C.-based Conair Aerial Firefighting — an acquisition worth approximately $187.06 million. The four new Dash 8 airtankers will replace the province’s current fleet of four Convair 580s, which the SPSA says will “approach the end of their useful lifespan in 2027.”

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You don’t have to spend long in the working world to recognize there are multiple types of leaders. Every kind of leader motivates, challenges and develops employees in different ways. Their corresponding styles can all inspire different outcomes.

Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Paul Merriman said the province “relies on land-based airtanker aircraft as part of its approach to managing wildfires. These aircraft are used in instances where waterbombers may not be able to access lakes to fill up their tanks.”

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SPSA has confirmed that the federal government is contributing $16.29 million towards the aircraft acquisition through Natural Resources Canada’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program.

Leaders cannot simply sit around and wait for change to happen. Rather, they make proactive decisions and bold choices that can set the tone for others to follow.

Two of the Dash 8s are to be converted into dedicated airtankers, known as the Dash 8-Q400AT, while the remaining two will be converted into multi-role aircraft that can be used to fight fires as well as be reconfigured for other operations like air evacuations, patient transport, cargo hauling, etc. The latter type is defined by Conair as the Dash 8-Q400MRE.

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In contrast, transformational leaders inspire employees in ways that go beyond exchanges and rewards. This approach can increase a team’s intrinsic motivation by expressing the value and purpose behind the organization’s goals.

Now that you know the foundations of transformational leadership, you can see how beneficial it can be. You can answer not only, “What is transformational leadership?” but also, “Why is it effective?” You may even be thinking about some actionable ways to put this style into practice.

In addition to the large capacity, SPSA says both aircraft models have increased efficiency and “produce 30 per cent less emissions than a similar sized airtanker.”

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The result is an engaged workforce that’s empowered to innovate and help shape an organization’s future success. Your curiosity may leave you wondering, “What is transformational leadership, exactly?” Join us as we help answer this question.

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While transformational leadership principles are well-suited for today’s fast-paced, diverse and highly technological workforce, the style is far from a new development. Presidential biographer and leadership expert James MacGregor Burns is credited with coining the concept in the 1970s. Organizational change and leadership development expert Kevin Ford builds off this model that Burns initially identified. According to Ford, there are three effective leadership styles:

As you gain a clearer understanding of transformational leadership, it’s helpful to walk through the various components that are inherent to this management style. But first, it’s worth evaluating the differences between transformational and transactional leadership.

“These planes will replace the SPSA’s aging land-based airtanker fleet with a modern, supportable aircraft with an anticipated useful life of 25 years,” said Minister Merriman. “They will also support the SPSA’s ability to provide an operational response to more emergencies and public safety events beyond wildfires.”

Transformational leaders thrive on personal growth and know their strengths and weaknesses. They often take time to reflect and set daily or weekly goals. These leaders believe everyone, including themselves, should be continually learning and improving.

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As you consider the transformational leadership style, you may be wondering what it looks like in practice. Forbes senior contributor Blake Morgan outlines a number of habits common to effective transformational leaders. Here are five of the most essential traits:

With its current fleet of aerial firefighting aircraft approaching their end of life, Saskatchewan has purchased four land-based airtankers that will allow the province to continue to manage wildfires well into the future.

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Finally, transformational leaders take little issue with admitting they don’t have all the answers. While they can remain confident in their goals and abilities, they’re also able to keep their egos in check and do what’s right for their team or organization.

Perhaps it’s time to think about furthering your studies. A Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Organizational Leadership can help you become a visionary leader who knows how to transform diverse organizations through collaboration, strategic thinking and a profound commitment to lifelong learning.

Remaining open to new ideas and fresh perspectives is an important aspect of transformational leadership. Rather than jumping to conclusions, these leaders regularly gather feedback and ideas from a range of sources before making strategic decisions.

Transactional leadership is based on a system of exchanges between the leader and each employee. Employees receive positive reinforcement for meeting specific goals. An effective transactional leader is adept at recognizing and rewarding accomplishments in a timely manner. Within this leadership style, team members are typically evaluated and given feedback based on predetermined performance criteria. Workers aren’t necessarily expected to think innovatively about the tasks at hand.

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Conair Aerial Firefighting’s president and CEO Matt Bradley said he believes “Saskatchewan leads [Canada] in preparing for future disasters with their order for four modern emergency response aircraft. They are the first province to invest in the safety and security of their citizens with a purchase of the multi role airtankers, built by Canadians for Canadians. Saskatchewan is . . . enhancing their fleet with aircraft designed to offer first in, last out capability.”

Leaders, it’s important to note, aren’t confined to a single leadership style. In many cases, combining different approaches can enhance organizational outcomes. Transformational and transactional leadership are two styles that have been thoroughly researched, and a given leader may exhibit varying degrees of both styles.

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A transformational leadership style inspires employees to strive beyond required expectations to work toward a shared vision, whereas transactional leadership focuses more on extrinsic motivation for the performance of specific job tasks. Learning to balance these styles can help leaders reach their full potential.

Good transformational leaders understand changing business dynamics and are always finding innovative ways to stay ahead of the curve. They’re unafraid to alter traditional approaches that have worked in the past as they look toward the future.