FlightGlobal
• David Kaminski-Morrow
Coulson is expanding its aerial firefighting fleet with 10 C-130s formerly operated by the Canadian air force, as severe wildfires in British Columbia underscore the need for additional airtanker capacity. The acquisition strengthens the company’s ability to support wildfire response with large transport-derived firefighting aircraft.
Aerial Firefighting
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Spain’s Airworks has received a restricted-category UH-60L for wildfire response after an 18-month collaboration with Timberline Helicopters, while Pegasus Aero Group signed a long-term, multi-aircraft lease agreement with SkyConnect Leasing. The developments point to growing European operating and support capacity for the heavy helicopter type.
Coulson is expanding its aerial firefighting fleet with 10 C-130s formerly operated by the Canadian air force, as severe wildfires in British Columbia underscore the need for additional airtanker capacity. The acquisition strengthens the company’s ability to support wildfire response with large transport-derived firefighting aircraft.
Coulson Aviation Canada has conditionally agreed to acquire 10 of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s retired C-130H Hercules transports for conversion into aerial firefighting aircraft. The sale, announced at the Abbotsford International Airshow, follows the RCAF’s retirement of its 12-aircraft fleet; two airframes will be preserved.
A heavy-lift helicopter crashed while supporting firefighting operations near Richfield, Utah, but dangerous wildfire conditions prevented emergency responders from safely reaching the remote site. The incident came as rapidly spreading flames in Oregon killed a bulldozer operator, underscoring the hazards facing wildfire crews on multiple fronts.
A firefighting helicopter crashed near the Widemouth 2 wildfire in Utah, killing two people aboard. The aircraft was responding to a blaze that has burned more than 100,000 acres since it started last month, underscoring the operational risks facing aerial firefighting crews.
Engineer Jonathan Beck demonstrates how a French startup plans to develop a new generation of water-bombing aircraft to combat Europe’s future wildfires. The effort targets aging Canadair aircraft, which remain central to the region’s aerial firefighting response.
Inside a retired turboprop aircraft, French startup engineer Jonathan Beck demonstrates a concept intended to challenge aging Canadair water-bombers used against European wildfires. The effort reflects a push to develop additional aerial firefighting capacity as the region prepares for future fire seasons.
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Canada is advancing uncrewed aviation across military, commercial and emergency-response missions: the Royal Canadian Navy has deployed a Textron Aerosonde on an Arctic patrol vessel, while Voyageur ordered Airbus U030 Flexrotors and Volatus announced partnerships for sovereign intelligence and heavy-lift wildfire aircraft.
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