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 Chile91裸聊视频檚 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 country91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频� Coulson said. 91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频�
The Chinook helicopter and Coulson91裸聊视频檚 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 fire91裸聊视频攎ore than triple the amount of all the other 17 aircraft on the fire combined.
On another day, Coulson91裸聊视频檚 aircraft91裸聊视频攖he only super-heavy helicopter in the country, Coulson said91裸聊视频攄ropped two million gallons of water. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 a lot of water to deliver to the fire.91裸聊视频�
Chile has faced devastating wildfires in the past. The worst fire in Chile91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淭his is the first time we have been to Chile,91裸聊视频� 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 Chile91裸聊视频檚 Minister of Emergency Services to bring their aircraft to the South American country.
Last week the Minister of Emergency Services and Chile91裸聊视频檚 president, Sebastian Pinera, visited the base to see the Canadian aircraft, Coulson said. 91裸聊视频淭he president91裸聊视频as wishing our team well.91裸聊视频� 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 company91裸聊视频檚 C-130s is in New South Wales providing support to the wildfires raging on Australia91裸聊视频檚 east coast. 91裸聊视频淲ithin the next month our Boeing 737 Fireliner will be flying to New South Wales and our C130 will move down to Victoria State.91裸聊视频�
Coulson Aviation became the first in Australia to conduct night fire suppression operations successfully.
Back in Port Alberni, the next Fireliner91裸聊视频攖he company91裸聊视频檚 third Boeing 73791裸聊视频攁nd will soon undergo conversion. Right now there are two other CH47D Chinooks undergoing conversion to heli tankers. 91裸聊视频淭hey will be ready by early next year,91裸聊视频� Coulson said, giving the company four operational Chinooks.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 definitely lots of operations so we91裸聊视频檙e doing our best to keep up with the market. When you have great team members and great aircraft, countries call on you. That91裸聊视频檚 what we91裸聊视频檝e become, is the first call for a lot of these countries.91裸聊视频�
Coulson Aviation now operates on three continents, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 exciting to see our company constantly evolving and now operating on three continents, 91裸聊视频� Britt Coulson said.
91裸聊视频淥ur goal is to create a lasting presence in Chile for years to come.91裸聊视频�
The partnership between Coulson Aviation and PESCO will test methods to contain the wildfires in Chile, further expanding Coulson Aviation91裸聊视频檚 global reach and industrial leadership, Britt Coulson said.
Foster Coulson said the company continues to expand the number of people it employs.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e a Canadian company, we91裸聊视频檙e from a community such as Port Alberni and yet our services are required all over the world and we91裸聊视频檙e doing business all over the world,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淲e support all those businesses from the Alberni Valley.91裸聊视频�
