Meet the Coulson Aircraft Fleet Operating in Chile
Coulson Aviation has a fleet six aircraft on contract in Chile operating with three different agencies – five rotary aircraft being two Chinooks, two S61 Sikorsky and a Blackhawk, and a fixed wing C-130.
The C-130 Hercules Large Air Tanker (LAT)
The C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed Martin.
The C-130 has a 15,000 litre capacity internal tank that can deliver water or retardant and is one of the world’s most powerful aerial firefighting aircraft due to its range and versatility.
The C130 has the Coulson RADS-XXL roll-on/roll-off tanking system makes for a quick and easy conversion from firefighting air tanker to an equipment/personnel transport carrying aircraft.
The S61 Large Helitanker
Coulson Aviation’s fleet of Sikorsky S-61s are the rotary wing workhorses of the fleet with the ability to transport firefighters and undertake aerial firebombing during the day and night.
The Sikorsky S-61N is a versatile large helitanker that can operate tanked with a capacity of approximately 4000 litres or with a 3000 litre long line bucket.
Coulson designed, built, and certified the first 4000 litre Sikorsky S-61 belly tank; the first gel injection system carry tank that can be removed and/or replaced in under 45 minutes. In Chile this season the S61’s have been operating using long line buckets.
The Chinook (CH-47D) Very Large Helitanker (VLHT)
The Chinook is a fast, high volume Very Large Helitanker (VLHT) with the ability to undertake operations day and night.
The Chinook has around a 10,000 litre capacity using an external bucket that can deliver water or retardant. These ex-military helicopters are specially repurposed for firefighting, and are one of the world’s largest heavy lift helicopters.
The firefighting configuration of the Coulson CH-47D offers an operational endurance of up to 2.2 hours combined with an average ferry speed of 135 to 140 knots.
The Blackhawk
The UH-60 Blackhawk can operate in both aerial firefighting and heavy lift operations and in day and night operations.
The Blackhawk is agile and flexible in firebombing operations with day and night capability and the ability to either utilise an internal 3500 litre tank or 3000 litre external bucket.
In Chile this season the Blackhawk has been operating a long line bucket and has been based at Zorzal Blanco.
The Coulson fleet of aerial fire bombing aircraft are jointly managed in-country with Chilean company PESCO who is the Coulson partner in Chile. PESCO leads the local management, providing pilot translators, fuel trucks, logistics support, transport and facilities support to ensure the Coulson fleet and team operate safely and effectively in Chile, delivering services to three Chilean contracts being CONAF, ARAUCO and CMPC.