By David Wiwchar

Coulson Aviation ready for wildfire season

Jun 11, 2025 | 9:44 AM

Coulson Aviation crews are preparing for another busy firefighting season throughout North America.

Company owner and CEO Wayne Coulson says they recently signed a contract with the Province of BC to have their Sikorski S61 conduct night-time fire fighting.

“Clearly the BC Government wants to get into that part of the business now and they’ve put significant resources to start a program that will increase public safety during the nighttime operations,” he said.

Coulson Aviation has become an industry leader in night-time fire-fighting operations, and is working towards more local contracts on the horizon.

“Our goal has always been to protect the people of the province the best we can, and working with the BC government we’ve been able to turn the page has been very positive relationship and we’re really working in concert together as we look at the different types of products that we can provide BC and other parts of the world,” he said. “We start the contract around the middle of June and off we go for the season.”

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With more than 700 employees working throughout the United States, Australia and Canada, Coulson recently purchased four C-130 Hercules airplanes from the Royal New Zealand Air Force to be converted into water bombers.

An 80,000 square foot hangar is currently being built at the Alberni Airport to accomodate 737 conversions, bringing their footprint to more than 200,000 square feet for their more than 200 local employees and contractors.

Photo: Two of the four C-130 Hurcules purchased from the Royal New Zealand Airforce. Credit: Coulson Aviation

by David Wiwchar

Coulson Aviation ready for wildfire season

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