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 Chilesa国际传媒檚 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 countrysa国际传媒檚 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.
sa国际传媒淲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.sa国际传媒� Coulson said. sa国际传媒淲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.sa国际传媒�
The Chinook helicopter and Coulsonsa国际传媒檚 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 firesa国际传媒攎ore than triple the amount of all the other 17 aircraft on the fire combined.
On another day, Coulsonsa国际传媒檚 aircraftsa国际传媒攖he only super-heavy helicopter in the country, Coulson saidsa国际传媒攄ropped two million gallons of water. sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 a lot of water to deliver to the fire.sa国际传媒�
Chile has faced devastating wildfires in the past. The worst fire in Chilesa国际传媒檚 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.
sa国际传媒淭his is the first time we have been to Chile,sa国际传媒� 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 Chilesa国际传媒檚 Minister of Emergency Services to bring their aircraft to the South American country.
Last week the Minister of Emergency Services and Chilesa国际传媒檚 president, Sebastian Pinera, visited the base to see the Canadian aircraft, Coulson said. sa国际传媒淭he presidentsa国际传媒as wishing our team well.sa国际传媒� 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 companysa国际传媒檚 C-130s is in New South Wales providing support to the wildfires raging on Australiasa国际传媒檚 east coast. sa国际传媒淲ithin the next month our Boeing 737 Fireliner will be flying to New South Wales and our C130 will move down to Victoria State.sa国际传媒�
Coulson Aviation became the first in Australia to conduct night fire suppression operations successfully.
Back in Port Alberni, the next Firelinersa国际传媒攖he companysa国际传媒檚 third Boeing 737sa国际传媒攁nd will soon undergo conversion. Right now there are two other CH47D Chinooks undergoing conversion to heli tankers. sa国际传媒淭hey will be ready by early next year,sa国际传媒� Coulson said, giving the company four operational Chinooks.
sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 definitely lots of operations so wesa国际传媒檙e doing our best to keep up with the market. When you have great team members and great aircraft, countries call on you. Thatsa国际传媒檚 what wesa国际传媒檝e become, is the first call for a lot of these countries.sa国际传媒�
Coulson Aviation now operates on three continents, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 exciting to see our company constantly evolving and now operating on three continents, sa国际传媒� Britt Coulson said.
sa国际传媒淥ur goal is to create a lasting presence in Chile for years to come.sa国际传媒�
The partnership between Coulson Aviation and PESCO will test methods to contain the wildfires in Chile, further expanding Coulson Aviationsa国际传媒檚 global reach and industrial leadership, Britt Coulson said.
Foster Coulson said the company continues to expand the number of people it employs.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e a Canadian company, wesa国际传媒檙e from a community such as Port Alberni and yet our services are required all over the world and wesa国际传媒檙e doing business all over the world,sa国际传媒� he added. sa国际传媒淲e support all those businesses from the Alberni Valley.sa国际传媒�
