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Coulson Aviation
Coulson Aviation is an aviation company headquartered in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada. The company's fleet specializes in air tankers used for aerial firefighting. It operates in Canada, the United States, Australia and Chile.
The company operates both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The company's operations included helicopter logging, wildfire suppression, power-line construction, airliner passenger, transport, and other industrial heavy lift operations. Coulson Aviation (USA) Inc. is a subsidiary of Coulson Aircrane Ltd. Currently, Coulson Aviation contracts rotary and fixed-wing aircraft to Australia and the US from Canada.
In 1960, Cliff Coulson founded Coulson Forest Products Ltd. in Port Alberni, British Columbia after serving in World War II.[citation needed] Coulson Aviation was founded in 1985, with the initial purpose of supporting logging operations with rotary-wing aviation.
In 1987, the company acquired their first helicopter, a Sikorsky S-61N. This helicopter was primarily used for logging support until 1985. During a dry summer, the company began its shift to aerial firefighting operations. Throughout the expansion, Coulson Aviation sold their timberlands and sawmills to focus more funds to firefighting efforts.
By 2007, the company had purchased multiple planes, including the Martin JMR Mars flying boat. Coulson Aviation was awarded a contract with the U.S. Forest Service the same year.
Coulson Aviation signed a 5 year lease in March 2022 for Thermal Airport in Southern California. Three C-130s, three Boeing 737s, five CH-47 Chinook helicopters, three S-61 helicopters, and S-70 Blackhawks are reportedly being stationed there for supporting the California fire response efforts.
On December 22, 2025, Coulson Aviation announced their intent to develop a Boeing 767 Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) capability. The 767 VLAT plans to be capable of both personnel transport and aerial firefighting configurations.
In 2005, Coulson was contracted to provide aerial fire suppression support to Australia's National Aerial Firefighting Centre and the state of Victoria. Coulson Aviation Australia was founded in 2010 to support Coulson Aircrane's long-term operations in the country.
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Coulson Aviation
Coulson Aviation is an aviation company headquartered in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada. The company's fleet specializes in air tankers used for aerial firefighting. It operates in Canada, the United States, Australia and Chile.
The company operates both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The company's operations included helicopter logging, wildfire suppression, power-line construction, airliner passenger, transport, and other industrial heavy lift operations. Coulson Aviation (USA) Inc. is a subsidiary of Coulson Aircrane Ltd. Currently, Coulson Aviation contracts rotary and fixed-wing aircraft to Australia and the US from Canada.
In 1960, Cliff Coulson founded Coulson Forest Products Ltd. in Port Alberni, British Columbia after serving in World War II.[citation needed] Coulson Aviation was founded in 1985, with the initial purpose of supporting logging operations with rotary-wing aviation.
In 1987, the company acquired their first helicopter, a Sikorsky S-61N. This helicopter was primarily used for logging support until 1985. During a dry summer, the company began its shift to aerial firefighting operations. Throughout the expansion, Coulson Aviation sold their timberlands and sawmills to focus more funds to firefighting efforts.
By 2007, the company had purchased multiple planes, including the Martin JMR Mars flying boat. Coulson Aviation was awarded a contract with the U.S. Forest Service the same year.
Coulson Aviation signed a 5 year lease in March 2022 for Thermal Airport in Southern California. Three C-130s, three Boeing 737s, five CH-47 Chinook helicopters, three S-61 helicopters, and S-70 Blackhawks are reportedly being stationed there for supporting the California fire response efforts.
On December 22, 2025, Coulson Aviation announced their intent to develop a Boeing 767 Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) capability. The 767 VLAT plans to be capable of both personnel transport and aerial firefighting configurations.
In 2005, Coulson was contracted to provide aerial fire suppression support to Australia's National Aerial Firefighting Centre and the state of Victoria. Coulson Aviation Australia was founded in 2010 to support Coulson Aircrane's long-term operations in the country.