NIGHT AERIAL FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS
Coulson Aviation pioneered nighttime aerial firefighting, leveraging advanced technology and expertise to combat wildfires when conditions are most favorable. With thousands of night vision flight hours and a dedicated team, we continue to lead the industry in safe and effective after-dark fire suppression.
The Coulson Advantage: 24/7/365
Wildfire threatens life, property, and community day and night. Cooling temperatures, reduced wind, and rising humidity at night make it the ideal time to turn the tables on a raging fire. To properly battle a blaze under the cover of darkness, Coulson Aviation was the first aerial firefighting company to aggressively develop innovative, industry-changing nighttime fire suppression technology and protocols for successful and safe after dark operations.
Our highly experienced team of pilots, ground support personnel, maintenance engineers, and logistics experts continue to lead the world in nighttime aerial firefighting innovation.
The combination of our thousands of flight hours utilizing night vision goggle (NVG) technology, a complete ecosystem of nighttime aerial assets, and continuous procedural innovation provides unmatched reliability and safety in night aerial fire suppression.
Coulson and the SoCal Quick Reaction Force (QRF)
Coulson Aviation supports Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura County fire departments with very large helitankers, pilots, and support crews as a part of our ongoing partnership with Southern California Edison (SCE) and the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) program.
The QRF is a 24/7/365 aerial task force changing how fires are fought from the air via a combination of speed, power, and technology. Since starting with the QRF, Coulson has flown thousands of hours, dropping millions of gallons of water on hundreds of wildfires—60% of that time at night using NVGs.
Our QRF assets include the CH-47 Chinook, Sikorsky S-61, and Sikorsky S-76 helicopters.
As the world’s largest helitanker, Coulson’s CH-47 Chinook can ‘hover fill’ 3,000 gallons in 90 seconds with a retractable snorkel, allowing for quick returns to the fire line for the QRF. These aircraft operate at night with pilots using NVGs and receiving additional ‘eye-in-the-sky’ support from our Sikorsky S-76 intelligence and recon helicopters. S-76 capabilities include hotspot detection, fire behavior analysis, fire perimeter maps, and serve as mobile and/or static command-and-control centers.
Nighttime Aerial Firefighting History
The Trigger
In February 2009 the infamous Black Saturday bushfires ravaged the Australian state of Victoria, which was arguably the worst bushfire incident in Australia’s history. This prompted the team at Coulson Aviation to explore more advanced methods of containing wildfires with the use of advanced nighttime aerial firefighting methodologies.
Exploratory Research
Exploratory Research: Coulson Aviation funded the first exploratory tests in Port Alberni B.C., Canada. These tests included advanced technologies and systems for night aerial firefighting:
- Utilizing a secondary/supervision helicopter (Sikorsky S-76) for thermal imaging reconnaissance
- Utilizing a laser pointer to illuminate drop zones for firebombing aircraft
- Trials of hover filling with a Sikorsky S-61
First Trials
First trials using the Coulson Aviation nighttime firefighting system went into action.
S-61 and S-76 NVG
Sikorsky S-61 and S-76 helicopters are licensed for, and equipped with, night vision goggle technology.
Australia Takes Bold Action
Coulson Aviation is contracted by Victoria State (Australia) to carry out NVG nighttime firefighting missions.
Southern California Takes Bold Action
Coulson Aviation is contracted by OCFA (Orange County Fire Authority) to carry out NVG nighttime firefighting missions. Coulson Aviation announces a multi-million-dollar investment in NVG technology for their fleet of Sikorsky and C-130 aircraft.