Coulson Aviation awarded three-year firefighting contract with Chile’s CONAF

Coulson Aviation has announced that it has been awarded a three-year firefighting contract with Chile’s Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) for a C-130H Hercules large airtanker and a Citation 550 air attack lead plane with its partner BRYSA.

The Citation 550 air attack lead plane allows Coulson’s highly trained air attacks to coordinate the aerial assets on a fire from above for safety and efficiency. The fast, maneuverable jet maintains an altitude above all firefighting helicopters and airplanes, allowing the crew to direct aircraft, provide safe separation, and increase efficiency of overall operations.

Built by Lockheed Martin, the C-130H Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It is equipped with Coulson’s 4,000-gallon Retardant Aerial Delivery System (RADS-XXL), which requires no additional crew or equipment and provides real-time flow rate and superior drop zone coverage, reducing overall pilot workload.

“We are honored to continue supporting Chile with our aircraft,” said Britton Coulson, President and COO, Coulson Aviation. “We have been successfully fighting fires in Chile for the past three years with our Boeing CH-47Ds and Lockheed C-130Hs with great success. This new contract solidifies Coulson’s presence with the largest airtanker in the country. It also recognizes the value of our C-130 and Citation 550 working together to provide an efficient and productive aerial firefighting response.”