The Canadian government announced on Friday the sale of 10 retired CC-130H Hercules aircraft to Coulson Aviation, a British Columbia-based aerospace company, for conversion into firefighting planes. These aircraft are part of a fleet of 12 that were decommissioned by the Royal Canadian Air Force earlier this year, with the remaining two set to be displayed at public locations.
The sale was revealed by Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, Stephen Fuhr, during an event in Abbotsford, B.C. Fuhr described the transaction as a top-notch divestment initiative that will provide the military assets with a new purpose. He emphasized the importance of boosting firefighting capabilities given the increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires globally.
Coulson Aviation’s CEO, Wayne Coulson, expressed confidence in preparing the first converted aircraft for the upcoming wildfire season. The company plans to cover the conversion costs and offer firefighting services under contract to various governments. The conversion process will primarily take place in Port Alberni, B.C., with potential additional work in Abbotsford and Kelowna.
The Hercules aircraft, previously integral to the military’s transport operations, will be transformed into large tankers capable of carrying significant amounts of retardant for firefighting missions worldwide. The conversion of each aircraft is estimated to require approximately 20,000 hours of work.
Both the company and the government have refrained from disclosing the total sale price, citing confidentiality under the commercial agreement. It is noted that the federal government often faces challenges in selling off old military assets, with some assets ultimately being scrapped at the end of their service lives.
As part of its modernization efforts, Canada has already replaced the C-130H Hercules aircraft with the more advanced C-130J tactical planes. The sale of these aircraft to Coulson Aviation represents a strategic move to repurpose military assets and enhance firefighting capabilities in response to the growing wildfire threat.