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Coulson Aviation, an aerial firefighting provider, is one of five organizations awarded a 10-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity Large Airtanker (LAT) firefighting contract with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
The total contract, valued at $7.2 billion, will provide the basis for operations and maintenance service for Coulson’s C-130H Hercules and Boeing 737 FireLiner aircraft.
“Coulson is honored to continue to provide our services in support of the U.S. Forest Service,” said aid Britton Coulson, President and COO, Coulson Aviation.
“Our crew members are incredibly skilled, efficient, and operate aircraft second to none. We have over 60 years of experience with aerial support operations and look forward to being a part of the group selected by the USFS to aid fire suppression in the years ahead.”
Coulson Aviation operates the largest fleet of civilian Lockheed C-130H aircraft worldwide, is rapidly expanding its Boeing 737 Fleet, and is the first and only company in the world to convert a Boeing 737 commercial airliner into a FireLiner tanker.
Each tanker receives over 40,000 technician hours to become fully compliant and operational.
The FireLiner is differentiated from other next-generation LATs by its ability to transport firefighters without re-configuration and to fly at maximum speeds and altitudes with a load of retardant without restrictions.
The C-130H has been a leading attack aircraft in Coulson Aviation aerial firefighting missions due to its ability to employ makeshift runways for takeoffs and landings while offering a temporary infrastructure base onboard the aircraft.
Each aircraft platform is equipped with Coulson’s retardant aerial delivery system (RADS), a powerful weapon for any aerial firefighting arsenal. Coulson’s RADS products are the most widely used, highest-volume, 4,000 U.S. gallon tanking systems currently operating around the globe, according to the company.
In addition, Coulson’s RADS requires no additional crew or equipment, provides real-time flow rate and superior drop zone coverage, and reduces overall pilot workload.
Coulson Aviation said it is the only aerial firefighting company that operates both large fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft that are fully equipped to carry out aerial support missions.
This press release was prepared and distributed by Coulson Aviation.
