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Coulson Aviation secures $400 million contract to support aerial firefighting in Australia

Coulson Aviation was awarded a new 10-year, AUD$400 million contract ($369 million in Canadian funds) with Australia’s New South Wales Rural Fire Service. Awarded after an open bid process, Coulson will manage, operate and maintain their entire fleet. The company has managed a majority of the New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service (RFS) aircraft fleet for the previous five years. Coulson notes this partnership strengthens local jobs and skills development, ensuring a robust response to the fire seasons.

The Coulson team will oversee a fleet of 11 aircraft, including a 737 FIRELINER Large Airtanker (LAT), two Cessna Citations, six Bell-412 helicopters, a CH-47 Chinook, and a Beechcraft Super King Air.

”Coulson Aviation Australia has been the leading supplier of Large Air Tankers and Very Large Heli-Tankers to the Australian Governments for the past decade and it’s an honour to have been selected again, to continue to run RFS’s world-class fleet,” said Wayne Coulson, CEO of Coulson Group.

Coulson explains the focus on employing primarily Australian crews will enhance NSW’s self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on international personnel. In coordination with the NSW RFS, Coulson will conduct training sessions and equipment inspections as a proactive measure to reduce the devastating impact of bushfires and safeguard communities.

“The RFS has found a reliable and high-performing partner in Coulson Aviation, and we look forward to working with them as our aerial capability continues to expand,” said Rob Rogers, Commissioner of the RFS.

The contract includes expanding an apprenticeship program to develop the next generation of aviation personnel in NSW. A minimum of two mechanical apprentices will be part of the aviation team, explains Coulson, providing them with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with firefighting aircraft.

Coulson Aviation recently became the first aviation firm approved by Transport Canada as an Approved Training Organization (ATO), allowing the company to train technician candidates who can earn while they learn. The plan is to expand this model into NSW, explains Coulson, attracting new technicians and training them specifically for the utility aviation environment and to continually develop a well-trained workforce. Coulson notes it is also collaborating with local schools to grow and sustain this initiative.

During the 2022-23 bushfire season, RFS aircraft managed by Coulson Aviation completed over 340 missions and rescued 113 people. The RFS’s 737 ‘Marie Bashir’ was deployed 41 times, dropping more than 600,000 litres of retardant. The fleet also supported other emergency services such as flood rescues.