Coulson Aviation to expand airtanker fleet following 2021 wildfire season

Wildfires consumed more than 2 million acres this summer in the state of California alone. Canada-based Coulson Aviation is expanding its fleet and is converting another 737-300 to firetanker configuration as flames continue to lick at the borders of their containment zones. “We continue to expand our fleet with a capital investment of $15 million per aircraft,” Britt Coulson, co-president of Coulson Group, told Cargo Facts. Once reconfiguration is complete next year, Coulson’s fleet of 737-300 tankers will grow to four units. [caption id="attachment_416654" align="alignright" width="560"] Coulson has recently been using its 737-300 Fireliners in California. (Photo/Coulson Aviation)[/caption] The 737-300 is one of the largest aircraft in the “large airtanker” range, capable of holding 3,000 to 5,000 U.S. gallons, Coulson told Cargo Facts . This makes it more expensive — and more capable — than other airtankers. Coulson Aviation has seen considerable interest in the 737 from a variety of firefighting agencies, Coulson said. Within the last year, the company sold one of the aircraft (27928, ex-Southwest Airlines) to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service in Australia. Additionally, Coulson put its entire fleet to work this season. “We had all our available aircraft online fighting fires,” he said. The recent fire season was a particularly intense one, as data from California’s fire incident archive shows. “While fires are a natural part of California’s landscape, the fire season in California and across the West is starting earlier and ending later each year,” the database reported. Last year, Coulson Aviation announced plans to begin converting 737NGs and 757s . The company is still working on designs for those conversions, said Coulson. “However, the contracts currently in existence do not support the higher capital cost of these new types,” he noted. Cargo Facts Symposium, taking place LIVE Oct. 25-27 at the Wynn Las Vegas, is the essential event for stakeholders in the air cargo industry. Learn more and register at www.cargofactssymposium.com .

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