Quantcast

Coulson Aviation signs $400M contract with New South Wales Rural Fire Service

Routes 360 Headlines: Key Stories Of The Week (W/C October 20, 2025)
LATAM CEO: New Aircraft Mean New Routes, Engine Woes Remain A Concern
Boeing wins FAA approval to hike 737 MAX production to 42 planes per month
IATA Highlights Critical Priorities for Aviation Safety and Operations
Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Sept. 22, 2025)
First new Qantas Airbus jets come with one toilet for every 90 economy passengers – worse than Jetstar, Scoot and Ryanair
Breeze Airways becomes the first new US flag carrier in a decade — just as rival Spirit fights its 2nd bankruptcy
Airport runway close calls spur hopes for wider adoption of cockpit alert technology
Family sues American Airlines over deadly crash near National Airport
United Airlines briefly grounds all flights in US, Canada for second time in 2 months
2025 Air Canada flight attendants strike
United Airlines lifts brief ground stop after tech issue prompts FAA halt
Spirit Airlines preparing to furlough one-third of its flight attendants
‘Hypocrisy’ and ‘blackmail’: Ryanair’s feud with Spain
Exclusive: Turkey's surprise Air Europa deal came down to one key thing: control
Major airline launches exciting new route from Scotland to popular US location
Airlines fear carbon tax as flagship climate scheme develops holes
Ryanair scraps three Vienna routes, demands lower taxes and fees
Turkish Airlines has no intention of raising stake in Spain's Air Europa, chairman says
US lawmakers want Trump to reinstate delay compensation plan for air travelers
IATA pushes to raise international pilot retirement age to 67
US orders Delta and Aeromexico to dissolve their partnership over fairness concerns in Mexico
Southwest’s New Wheelchair Policy Will Require Passengers to Remove 1 Item Before Boarding — What to Know
Aviation expansion: IndiGo to start direct Mumbai-Copenhagen flights from Oct 8; marks entry into Nordics - The Times of India
Major change for ALL Aer Lingus passengers flying from busy airport to offer 'modern and streamlined' experience
Southwest Airlines adds Sonoma County in California expansion - The Points Guy
Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Sept. 8, 2025)
Delta Sees Record Premium Seats in '26, Main Cabin Flat or Down
Southwest requiring removal of batteries from mobility devices before boarding
Qantas’ milestone move for huge, new planes
Coulson Aviation signs $400M contract with New South Wales Rural Fire Service
Policy
Webp ymhfjf407emv9o42iza31o4oyd1u
Justin Foster Private Aviation Journalist | Simple Flying

Coulson Aviation has signed a new 10-year contract valued at $400 million with Australia's New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS). The agreement, announced on Monday, July 15, outlines Coulson Aviation's role in supporting the RFS's aerial firefighting operations. This marks a continuation of the partnership that has been in place for the past five years.

Under the terms of the contract, Coulson Aviation will operate the entire RFS fleet, which includes a variety of aircraft such as the Boeing 737 Fireliner Large Airtanker (LAT), two Cessna Citation jets, six Bell-412 helicopters, and a CH-47 Chinook. The fleet also features Beechcraft Super King Air aircraft.

Wayne Coulson, CEO of the Coulson Group, expressed satisfaction with the new agreement. "We are extremely pleased to have been chosen as the sole aviation supplier to operate the NSW Rural Fire Service-owned fleet of firefighting and emergency services aircraft. 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 honor to have been selected again to continue to run RFS’s world-class fleet."

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

In addition to operating the fleet, Coulson Aviation will assist with training sessions and equipment inspections. The contract includes an apprenticeship program aimed at providing mechanical apprentices with hands-on experience in maintaining aerial firefighting aircraft. This initiative is expected to expand throughout New South Wales.

Rob Rogers, Commissioner of New South Wales RFS, commented on the partnership: "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."

During last year's bushfire season, Coulson Aviation was heavily relied upon, completing 340 missions and rescuing over 110 individuals. The Boeing 737 flagship aircraft was deployed more than 40 times and dispensed over 600,000 liters of fire retardant.

Coulson Aviation operates a large fleet of air tankers for aerial firefighting across Canada, the United States, Chile, and Australia. Founded in British Columbia in 1960 as a forestry and logging company, it began operating helicopters in the late 1980s before expanding into aircraft operations.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that its Wings of Change Europe (WOCE) event will take place at the Steigenberger Icon Wiltcher's Hotel in Brussels.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced a new partnership with Crunchyroll, the global anime streaming platform, to bring a curated selection of anime content to its flights.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines has been recognized as one of the 2025 Fortune Best Workplaces for Women, marking its return to the list since 2019.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines marked its 100th anniversary by serving as the official airline of the 60th Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) in Boston.

Oct 23, 2025

American Airlines has announced that it will upgrade its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with new Flagship Suites, the airline's latest business-class product.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines will introduce a new in-flight dining partnership with Chef José Andrés, bringing Spanish-inspired cuisine to select cabins starting November 4.

Oct 23, 2025