The Canadian government announced on Friday that it will be selling 10 retired CC-130H Hercules aircraft to Coulson Aviation, a British Columbia-based aerospace company. Coulson Aviation plans to convert these aircraft into firefighting planes. The Royal Canadian Air Force had retired a total of 12 Hercules aircraft in January, with the remaining two to be displayed publicly at bases and museums.
The conditional sale of the retired aircraft was revealed by Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr at an event in Abbotsford, B.C. Fuhr described the sale as a top-tier divestment initiative that will provide a new purpose for the military assets. He emphasized the positive impact of the sale on the aerospace industry and the urgent need for increased firefighting capabilities globally.
With wildfires becoming more severe and frequent worldwide, there is a growing demand for water bombers. Coulson Aviation’s CEO, Wayne Coulson, expressed confidence that the company could have the first converted aircraft ready for the upcoming wildfire season. While the conversion process is expected to be time-consuming, Coulson Aviation aims to offer its services under contract to various governments.
The conversion of the Hercules aircraft into large tankers capable of carrying substantial amounts of retardant is a significant undertaking, with each aircraft requiring approximately 20,000 hours of work. The specific details of the sale price remain undisclosed due to confidentiality reasons outlined in the commercial agreement between the company and the government.
The retired C-130H aircraft, which had been a key component of the military’s airlift operations for many years, have been replaced by the more advanced C-130J tactical aircraft. The sale of these aircraft marks a strategic move to repurpose military assets to address pressing global needs, particularly in combating wildfires and enhancing firefighting capabilities.
