Coulson Aviation is expanding its firefighting operations into Chile and sending more aircraft to Australia to help both countries battle wildfires.
For the next 100 days, Coulson Aviation, headquartered in Port Alberni, B.C., will be working with its new partner PESCO and ChileB次元官网网址檚 National Forest Corporation (CONAF) to fight against the current wildfire season. The CH47D Chinook helicopter that Coulson sent to Bolivia to help fight fires in the Amazon rainforest has been sent to Chile, said Foster Coulson.
The National Forest Corporation (CONAF) is a Chilean non-profit organization, through which Chile contributes to the management of the countryB次元官网网址檚 forest resources. Together with the new partner PESCO, a leading company in equipment and machinery for the forestry, mining, environmental, municipal, and emerging industries, Coulson Aviation is bringing their expertise in firefighting into Chile.
B次元官网网址淲e are thrilled as a company to partner with another family-owned and operated company, PESCO, who share the same passion about delivering a world-class service as we do.B次元官网网址� Coulson said. B次元官网网址淲ith this new partnership, we have been able to secure a contract with CONAF, who for the first time will be hiring a CH47D Chinook to support their firefighting needs.B次元官网网址�
The Chinook helicopter and CoulsonB次元官网网址檚 crew arrived near Santiago, Chile, on Nov. 16 and immediately began providing structure protection. In two hours on its first day, the Chinook completed 49 drops, delivering more than 100,000 gallons of water on the fireB次元官网网址攎ore than triple the amount of all the other 17 aircraft on the fire combined.
On another day, CoulsonB次元官网网址檚 aircraftB次元官网网址攖he only super-heavy helicopter in the country, Coulson saidB次元官网网址攄ropped two million gallons of water. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a lot of water to deliver to the fire.B次元官网网址�
Chile has faced devastating wildfires in the past. The worst fire in ChileB次元官网网址檚 modern history happened two years ago and killed at least 11 people, destroyed a town, and around 600,000 hectares of land. Climate change and the replacement of native forests with flammable eucalyptus and pine plantations is a growing threat of wildfires to Chile. Over recent years, Chile has seen an increasing number of more massive wildfires as well as an extended wildfire period.
This year, Chile expects the area burned by wildfires to double compared to last year.
The Coulson crew spent 45 days in Bolivia with three aircraft before moving into Chile, Coulson said. Two of the Sikorsky S-61s have been sent to Australia, while the Chinook travelled to Chile.
B次元官网网址淭his is the first time we have been to Chile,B次元官网网址� Coulson said. He worked with the Canadian Embassy in Santiago, which put them in touch with PESCO, another family-owned business. Coulson has been liaising with ChileB次元官网网址檚 Minister of Emergency Services to bring their aircraft to the South American country.
Last week the Minister of Emergency Services and ChileB次元官网网址檚 president, Sebastian Pinera, visited the base to see the Canadian aircraft, Coulson said. B次元官网网址淭he presidentB次元官网网址as wishing our team well.B次元官网网址� The team has garnered a lot of media attention in the country, he added.
The two helicopters heading to Australia were going to Victoria State. One of the companyB次元官网网址檚 C-130s is in New South Wales providing support to the wildfires raging on AustraliaB次元官网网址檚 east coast. B次元官网网址淲ithin the next month our Boeing 737 Fireliner will be flying to New South Wales and our C130 will move down to Victoria State.B次元官网网址�
Coulson Aviation became the first in Australia to conduct night fire suppression operations successfully.
Back in Port Alberni, the next FirelinerB次元官网网址攖he companyB次元官网网址檚 third Boeing 737B次元官网网址攁nd will soon undergo conversion. Right now there are two other CH47D Chinooks undergoing conversion to heli tankers. B次元官网网址淭hey will be ready by early next year,B次元官网网址� Coulson said, giving the company four operational Chinooks.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 definitely lots of operations so weB次元官网网址檙e doing our best to keep up with the market. When you have great team members and great aircraft, countries call on you. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檝e become, is the first call for a lot of these countries.B次元官网网址�
Coulson Aviation now operates on three continents, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 exciting to see our company constantly evolving and now operating on three continents, B次元官网网址� Britt Coulson said.
B次元官网网址淥ur goal is to create a lasting presence in Chile for years to come.B次元官网网址�
The partnership between Coulson Aviation and PESCO will test methods to contain the wildfires in Chile, further expanding Coulson AviationB次元官网网址檚 global reach and industrial leadership, Britt Coulson said.
Foster Coulson said the company continues to expand the number of people it employs.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a Canadian company, weB次元官网网址檙e from a community such as Port Alberni and yet our services are required all over the world and weB次元官网网址檙e doing business all over the world,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淲e support all those businesses from the Alberni Valley.B次元官网网址�
