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