This 1968 built Coulson Aviation S-61 is paying a visit to the BC Aviation Museum where their Martin Mars now lives. They could have brought one of their biz jets, but the helo solves the ground transportation problem!

This 1964 built S-61 first flew with New York Airways as N92866, then as PH-NZA with KLM Helikopters which also leased it to the United Nations in the 1990's for a humanitarian operation in Bosnia. Next stop was with ERA Helicopters before it finally joined Coulson in June of 2019. Since forest or wild fires are often ignited by sparks originating from power lines, the heli can be seen here standing-by on a fire fighting contract, hired by the electrical company Edison, of which a small sticker can be seen under the cockpit window.

This 1989 S-76B was registered N36CD and N7689S before acquired by Coulson Aircrane in 2010 and registered C-FIRW. Transferred to Coulson Aviation (USA) in 2019, the helicopter works with Orange County Fire Authority and the University of California San Diego (USCD). The university's WIFIRE program can forecast where a fire direction is predicted to go and identify risks and hazards for firefighters and communities using real-time fire maps from the helicopter.

Coulson's latest Hercules departing to Port Hardy (CBS8) after clearing Customs. Ex-Norwegian serial 10952 and still carries the name 'Odin' below the cockpit glazing. It was only on the ground for about 15 minutes so I was lucky to catch it.

Another aircraft was brought in from NSW to assist with the fires in the North West of the state. Coulson's C-130H Froy, operating as Bomber 134.

Another Hercules for the Coulson fleet just arrived from New Mexico and here departing to Port Hardy (CBS8) after Customs. This one is ex Norwegian Air Force serial 10954 and it still carries the name 'Balder' below the cockpit glazing.

Visiting from Alberni Valley Regional (CBS8) is this 1991 built Citation II. Never seen a jet like this parked with flaps and spoilers still deployed.

Departing to Port Alberni after clearing Customs is this C-130H fire tanker. It was previously serial 955 with the Norwegian Air Force and still carries the name 'Froy' below the flight deck windows.

Taxiing out for departure to Port Alberni is this C-130H fire tanker using call-sign "Coulson 133". It was previously serial 955 with the Norwegian Air Force.

Coulson Timber of Port Alberni, BC entered the aviation business in the late 1980s when it bought a Sikorsky S-61N for heli-logging, then won S-61N firefighting contracts in the Canada, the US and Australia. In 2007, Coulson bought Flying Tankers' two Martin JMR Mars flying boats and won a USFS contract in the US. When the Mars contract was cancelled, Coulson started converting C-130Q/Hs and later Boeing 737-300s into air tankers. Four Cessna 550s with sensors retired by the US Customs & Border Protection are now used to support fire ops in the US and overseas, including N552CG, ex-N4614N.

Quick stop for gas for Coulson's S-76

Arrived from Redmond (KRDM) and here departing to Port Alberni (CBS8) after clearing Customs.

One of three Challengers present for an intended jet charter division of the Coulson Group.