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

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

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Justin Foster Private Aviation Journalist | Simple Flying

By Sky Industry News

Jul 15, 2024

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."

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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.