By David Wiwchar

Coulson adds biggest bombers to fleet

May 23, 2024 | 9:06 AM

Coulson Aviation has begun the next chapter in waterbomber development after landing their first of ten Boeing 737-700s from Southwest Airlines in Texas.

Britt Coulson says with climate change, wildfires are getting worse and says the new planes will become the largest waterbombers in their class.

“One of the large air tankers primary missions is initial attack and the quicker you can get to a fire with the most payload the best chance you have of slowing it down and allowing the ground crews to come in, or stopping it,” he said. “There’s no amount of money too great that you can spend in the first hour of a fire starting.”

During the next 18-24 months, the plane will outfitted with tanks at their Port Alberni facility, and be able to drop 5000 gallons of water or retardent on a fire, which is 1000 gallons more than the C-130 Hercules, but less than the 7500 gallons the Martin Mars was able to dump.

“This is going to have a higher payload, it flies faster, is more fuel efficient and having faster, more capable larger air tankers are really going to be able to help against that war against wildfire both in Canada the US as well as internationally,” Coulson said.

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