Coulson Helos Tapped for SoCal Quick Reaction Force

For the fifth consecutive year, Coulson Aviation has been selected as the only private helicopter operator to support Southern California’s quick reaction force (QRF) to fight wildfires. Contracting with Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura County fire departments, its fleet of very large helitankers, pilots, and support crews provide service 24/7/365 in the only contract of its kind worldwide. This year’s contract covers the use of three Boeing CH-47 Chinooks and a Sikorsky S-76 intelligence and recon helicopter. 

“Coulson Aviation is pleased to be part of this game-changing and successful force for California in response to the state’s year-round needs,” said CEO Wayne Coulson.

The CH-47s are equipped with Coulson’s RADS-L—a 3,000-gallon delivery system that can hover fill in 90 seconds via its proprietary retractable snorkel. The aircraft can also operate at night with pilots using night vision goggles and receive additional support from the S-76. During last year’s contract, Coulson dropped more than 700,000 gallons of water on more than 25 wildfires—more than half of them at night.

While contracted to the county fire departments, the aircraft will also be available to support partner fire departments within utility Southern California Edison’s 50,000-sq-mi service area.

“Our goal to keep all new wildfires to 10 acres or less 95 percent of the time is not possible without the most state-of-the-art fleet of firefighting aircraft in the world,” said Brian Fennessy, chief of Orange County Fire Authority. “That is exactly what the QRF is, and its year-round availability is a significant step in fighting what has become a year-round season of potentially deadly and destructive wildfires.”