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Coulson Aviation has been selected by the United States Air Force to install its Retardant Aerial Delivery System (RADS)-XXL firefighting systems on the seven C-130H aircraft to be operated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Coulson teamed with Lockheed Martin who will carry out all the installation activities at its location in Greenville, S.C. With the addition of these seven aircraft, the Coulson RADS series of aerial delivery systems will be the most prominent large airtanker delivery system in the world.
Coulson Aviation, the world leader in aerial firefighting technology, first developed and installed the RADS in 2011 to equip its own C-130H/Q for aerial fire suppression. Now, Coulson Aviation won a contract with the United States Air Force to provide them with state-of-the-art RADS for their fleet of C-130’s.
“We are honored to have been selected by the United States Air Force. This contract award is a testament to the commitment at Coulson Aviation of excellence in aerial firefighting. We are very fortunate to have so many hard working men and women supporting operations on three continents,” said Wayne Coulson, Coulson Aviation.
“We are the first system in the industry to employ technology to not only aid and reduce the workload of the pilots, but to produce a superior drop pattern on the ground,” added Britt Coulson, Coulson Aviation.
Coulson Aviation has over 25 years of experience in aerial fire suppression and is the only commercial operator of C-130H aircraft. Its RADS-XXL firefighting system will help Cal Fire in the fight against California’s horrifying wildfires, saving not only thousands of acres of land and structures but also lives.
