Chile-based firefighting helicopters return to US for fire season
Coulson Aviation’s four Chinook CH-47s have completed their summer contracts in Chile and are making their way home to North America
Foster Coulson, Coulson Group Co-President & COO, said an integrated multi-national team had been operating in the country with more than 80 Coulson team members, including pilots, flight engineers, maintenance engineers, support staff, and management staff.
Coulson Aviation teams were based in four air bases, providing support to several key regions within Chile impacted by wildfires. “This was an opportunity to integrate large aircraft into major fire operations within Chile and we look forward to continuing work collaboratively with our Chilean partners and customers in the coming seasons,” Coulson said.
PESCO partnership in Chile
Coulson partnered with Chile-based PESCO, which provided local management, logistics and facilities support to our teams. “Coulson Aviation operates one of the largest aerial firefighting fleets in the world, which provides a huge benefit for our country, and dramatically enhances our aerial firefighting teams in Chile,” said the PESCO Management team.
This is the second Chilean firefighting season in a row for Coulson Aviation, during which the teams have helped their partners conquer the massive challenges they face on a day-to-day basis during their summer firefighting seasons.
For more information about aerial firefighting resources in countries across South America, you can read this feature that AirMed&Rescue published in 2020, which considered how operators have adapted to key environmental and cultural factors.