Converting Ex-Military C-130H Aircraft into Airtankers with Coulson Aviation

Skies visited Coulson Aviation at its Port Alberni, B.C., facility to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the company is converting five C-130Hs from the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency into the ideal airtankers to bolster the company's operations.
Find the feature story in the December '23/January '24 issue of Skies, which is also our annual photo contest issue! issues.skiesma...

[@storm-aircorporation6540]

I was often at San Bernardino airport working for a major airline providing QA oversight on aircraft whose maintenance was performed there. I was fortunate enough to be given a tour of their first C-130 conversion. As a former USAF C-130H Flight Engineer, I can attest to the ability of the C-130 platform as hugely versatile. Coulson is a top-notch company who consistently demonstrates their world class abilities. I have also seen the Norwegian C-130's and I surely believe Coulson got a great deal.

[@henryverdugo9889]

I used to work at the San Bernardino Airport for Unical MRO for a few years. Things to do their maintenance in one of our hangers. I give Coulson Aviation respect you guys are awesome keep up the great work

[@fourthgeartv6106]

Fly high to the top 🫡

[@RobS-p6m]

awesome . to see a Canadian company especially from BC . I wish the BC government would use them to dealwith forest fires

[@ds9655]

You mean other than the BC contracts they've had for years?

[@adrianwapcaplet2773]

"We're the only operator in the world that designs, manufactures and installs all at one location".
Britt is not telling the truth.
Conair Aviation has been doing all three functions at their facility in Abbotsford for over 50 years. Air Spray has done the same in Red Deer for their Lockheed Electras, also for 50+ years. Air Tractor does all of the above - plus builds the underlying airplane itself - all at their factory in Texas, since the mid-90s.
Coulson has converted two aircraft types in Port Alberni: the C130 & 737.
Conair has converted (design, manufacture & install) at least seven types in Abbotsford: the TBM Avenger, A-26, Grumman S2, DC-6, Convair 580, RJ-85, and Dash-8 400. Conair also improved the gate/drop system on the AT-802F in house, delivering a superior drop pattern for heavier timber fuels than the proprietary Air Tractor system.
Aviation publications (hello, Skies Magazine) need to ask follow-up questions, perform some fact-checking, and scratch the surface a little deeper rather then take a Coulson at face value. Ask some probing questions about his claim of successfully changing an ex-military Hercules to a civilian type certificate. Ask if Lockheed and Boeing support the converted airplanes once they've had their pressurized hulls cut to install the retardant tank. Above all, never trust a ginger with a man bun.

[@davidingibergsson1845]

Let's not let facts and hyperbole get in the way of self-promotion.

[@jameshigginbottom6512]

You had me with man bun....yikes

[@frosthammer71]

Coulson also converts 727's and CH-47 heli' s.

[@adrianwapcaplet2773]

@@frosthammer71 737s, not 727s.

[@frosthammer71]

@@adrianwapcaplet2773 wrong

[@brucehemmerich9653]

Wow

[@jdomarsh]

As purpose built for firefighting as you can get..... Ever heard of a cl415??

[@adrianwapcaplet2773]

I believe the CL 215/415 line, the Air Tractor 802 and Russia's Beriev-200 are the only aircraft in the world purpose-built for aerial firefighting.

[@mrwest5552]

more than likely Coulson already has, or soon will, have the company wide meeting to state "we won't be Boeing".

[@johnsebar7807]

Why isn't Coulson flying on BC fires?

[@gsteele5196]

provincial governments refusal to pay coulson

[@patrickmeehan2841]

This what the Canadian government should be doing to fight seasonal wild fires. But the government instead spent the money on consultants