The Canadian government announced on Friday the sale of 10 retired CC-130H Hercules aircraft to Coulson Aviation, a British Columbia-based aerospace company. Coulson Aviation will convert these aircraft into firefighting planes. The Royal Canadian Air Force retired a total of 12 Hercules aircraft in January, with the remaining two slated for public display at bases and museums.
Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr revealed the conditional sale of the retired aircraft during an international air show in Abbotsford, B.C. Fuhr praised the sale as a top-tier divestment initiative that will provide these military assets with a new purpose.
The aerospace industry is expected to benefit from this sale, creating job opportunities. Given the heightened frequency and intensity of wildfires globally, there is a growing demand for firefighting capabilities. Coulson Aviation’s CEO, Wayne Coulson, expressed confidence in preparing the first converted aircraft for the upcoming wildfire season.
The conversion process will be conducted at Coulson Aviation’s expense, with plans to offer firefighting services under government contracts. The aircraft conversions will primarily take place in Port Alberni, B.C., and potentially in Abbotsford and Kelowna to expedite the process.
The C-130H Hercules aircraft played a crucial role in the military’s airlift operations for many years, handling various tasks such as personnel transport, cargo delivery, search-and-rescue missions, and air-to-air refuelling. The government has replaced these aircraft with the more advanced C-130J tactical planes.
The 10 Hercules aircraft being sold will be transformed into large tankers capable of carrying substantial amounts of retardant for firefighting operations worldwide. The conversion of each aircraft is estimated to require approximately 20,000 hours of work. The sale price of these aircraft remains confidential under the commercial agreement between the company and the government.
In instances where old military assets reach the end of their service life, the government often faces the necessity of disposal. Canada’s upcoming retirement of the four Victoria-class submarines will likely result in their scrapping as well.