Canada to Transfer Ten C-130 Hercules Planes to Coulson Aviation for Firefighting
The Canadian government will sell ten retired C-130 Hercules aircraft to British Columbia firm Coulson Aviation, which will convert them into water-bombing planes.
At an international air show in Abbotsford, B.C., Defense Procurement Minister Stephen Fuhr disclosed that the federal government intends to transfer ten decommissioned C-130 Hercules aircraft to Coulson Aviation, a company based in British Columbia. These military transports, which have served in search-and-rescue and heavy-lift roles for the Canadian Armed Forces, will be re-engineered into aerial firefighting water-bombers at a facility in Port Alberni.
The conversion process is expected to allow the first aircraft to join fire-suppression efforts within twelve months. The announcement highlights the government's aim to extend the usefulness of military assets beyond their original service life. The monetary value of the transaction was not disclosed by officials.
Why it matters
Repurposing military planes for firefighting could boost Canada’s capacity to combat wildfires.
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