Coulson Aviation Canada has acquired 10 former Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-130H Hercules aircraft that it plans to convert for aerial firefighting missions.
The acquisition doubles Coulson’s global fleet of C-130Hs from 10 to 20 aircraft, the company announced on August 7, 2026. The aircraft were purchased directly from the Canadian government.
Coulson Aviation Canada will lead the conversion program in British Columbia, including engineering, certification, modification, maintenance, training and flight operations.
“These aircraft served Canada for decades and we would like to recognize the men and women of the RCAF that operated them with exceptional professionalism throughout their service,” Coulson Aviation Canada CEO Wayne Coulson said.
The CC-130H has served the RCAF in roles including tactical airlift, search and rescue, Arctic operations, disaster response and humanitarian missions.
Coulson plans to convert the newly acquired aircraft into large airtankers using its RADS-XXL retardant delivery system. The system can carry up to 4,000 gallons, or more than 15,000 liters, of water or fire retardant.
The company already operates C-130Hs equipped with the system. Coulson said the combination of the Hercules’ payload, speed, range and ability to operate from relatively short runways makes it well suited to both initial attacks on wildfires and longer-duration firefighting operations.
“Firefighters on the ground need aircraft overhead that can get there quickly, carry a meaningful load and keep working,” Coulson said. “These aircraft will multiply the current initial attack capacity operating in Canada today.”
Coulson announced the acquisition at Cascade Aerospace in Abbotsford, British Columbia, where several of the former RCAF aircraft are located.
The company also brought one of its operational C-130H airtankers, Tanker 131, to Abbotsford. The aircraft is scheduled to perform a demonstration retardant drop during the Abbotsford International Airshow.
Coulson Aviation is headquartered in Port Alberni, British Columbia, and operates more than 60 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters supporting government agencies in North America, South America and Australia.
The Canadian government continues to operate CC-130H aircraft, primarily for search and rescue missions, alongside its newer CC-130J Hercules fleet.