Coulson Aviation to convert ten retired Canadian C-130H Hercules into firefighting aircraft

Coulson Aviation has signed an agreement to purchase ten retired Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules transport aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force. The company plans to restore these aircraft to airworthy condition and convert them into aerial firefighting planes capable of dropping both water and fire retardant.

The conversion process will take place at Coulson Aviation's maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center in British Columbia, Canada. This project is expected to support jobs within the Canadian aerospace industry. The aircraft will feature large retardant tanks with capacities exceeding 15,000 liters. A key advantage of the C-130 platform is its ability to operate from short runways with limited technical or navigational support.

This acquisition will increase Coulson Aviation's C-130 Hercules fleet to 20 aircraft, following previous purchases of retired planes from New Zealand and Norway. The company anticipates that the first one or two converted aircraft could be operational as early as 2027. The transaction remains subject to approval by Transport Canada.