Coulson Aviation Canada has started a 70-day contract with the British Columbia Wildfire Service (BCWS) to provide one of its Sikorsky S-61 Type 1 helitankers, which is equipped for night vision goggle (NVG) operations. It is the first time Coulson will conduct live-fire NVG aerial firefighting missions on Canadian soil.

The NVG-equipped S-61 is capable of delivering precise water drops in low-light conditions, extending fire suppression capability beyond daylight hours. The partnership is aimed at integrating Coulson’s international NVG experience into BCWS’s wildlife response strategy.

Coulson, which received the world’s first NVG firefighting certification from Transport Canada in 2011, has since gained similar approvals in Australia and the US and now operates a fully NVG-equipped rotary-wing fleet. This includes its flagship Quick Reaction Force (QRF) programme, operated year-round in southern California in partnership with the Orange County Fire Authority, L.A. County Fire Department and Ventura County Fire Department.

Britton Coulson, president and COO of Coulson Aviation, comments: “We're proud to bring our global NVG firefighting experience to Canada and collaborate with the BC Wildfire Service to continue developing a programme that enhances nighttime fire suppression capability in British Columbia.”

Coulson Aviation has logged thousands of NVG flight hours and delivered tens of millions of gallons during night operations.