Coulson Aviation has been awarded a four-year firefighting contract with the Western Australia government for a C-130H Hercules airtanker. The aircraft is already on its way to Australia from the U.S.
Built by Lockheed Martin, the C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. Coulson purchased the C-130 from the Norwegian military and overhauled and converted it into one of the industry's premiere large airtankers. It has a capacity of 4,000 gallons (15,000 litres) and is considered one of the world's most powerful aerial firefighting aircraft due to its range, versatility and suppression ability per drop.
Western Australia Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson warned last month of an unpredictable and potentially devastating bushfire season with bushland primed with undergrowth as a result of heavy rains and climate change. Coulson's C-130H will be based in Busselton, Western Australia, to support fire suppression efforts throughout the season.
