A Vancouver Island aviation company has received a $3.4 million investment from the federal government for its ambitious work in the aerial firefighting industry.
Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, was at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport (AVRA) on Thursday, Oct. 11 to announce this repayable investment in Coulson Aviation through the Strategic Innovation Fund. The family-owned aviation company, based in Port Alberni, has been working on converting six Boeing 737 passenger airplanes into dual-purpose aerial firefighting tankers and passenger aircraft. The FireLiners include a 4,000-gallon capacity for water or retardant and 66 seats for moving fire personnel.
This project, said Qualtrough, is putting Canada at the forefront of the aerial firefighting industry.
B次元官网网址淧ort Albern is at the centre of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 forest industry,B次元官网网址� she said on Thursday. B次元官网网址淲ith forests come the risk of forest fire. That means that Coulson is geographically well-situated to design, develop and manufacture the aerial firefighting technology of the future.B次元官网网址�
Wayne Coulson, president and CEO, introduced the first FireLiner of the fleet on Thursday. The new aircraft finished all of its flight-testing in the U.S. and will be in Australia within a week, where it has picked up a five-year contract. It will be the first 737 ever used in fire suppression.
B次元官网网址淭his has never been done before,B次元官网网址� said Qualtrough. B次元官网网址淭his innovative project will solve a real problem and increase efficiency by providing the ability to deliver both fire retardant and firefighting personnel at the same time.B次元官网网址�
Coulson said the eventual goal is to have the crafts fighting fires in British Columbia.
B次元官网网址淗opefully at some point in time, weB次元官网网址檇 like to get them back here at home in B.C.,B次元官网网址� he said.
This new investment by the federal government, said Qualtrough, will create up to 15 new jobs, while maintaining 73 more in Port Alberni. Coulson Aviation will also continue to partner with post-secondary institutions for the B次元官网网址渓ocal development of skilled aerospace workers.B次元官网网址�
Coulson thanked the City of Port Alberni and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District for their support on Thursday. It is because of the regionB次元官网网址檚 airport, which after an $8 million expansion, that the 737s were able to land on the new runway.
Mayor Mike Ruttan said on Thursday that this is exactly what the region was hoping for in its new airport when the expansion was announced.
B次元官网网址淭his couldnB次元官网网址檛 have happened without all of us working together,B次元官网网址� he added.
Although Coulson Group of Companies also operates the famed Martin Mars air tankersB次元官网网址攖he largest water bombers in the worldB次元官网网址擟oulson chose not to speak to the Mars bombers on Thursday.
elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com
