The Canadian government announced on Friday the sale of 10 retired CC-130H Hercules aircraft to Coulson Aviation, a British Columbia-based aerospace company. The aircraft will be converted into firefighting planes by Coulson Aviation. These 10 aircraft are part of a fleet of 12 Hercules planes retired by the Royal Canadian Air Force earlier this year, with the remaining two slated for public display at various bases and museums.
The sale was revealed by Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, Stephen Fuhr, during an event at Abbotsford, B.C., coinciding with an international air show. Fuhr described the sale as a top-tier divestment initiative that will repurpose the military assets effectively.
Facing a global shortage of water bombers due to escalating wildfires, countries are seeking to bolster their firefighting capabilities. Recognizing this urgent need, Coulson Aviation’s CEO, Wayne Coulson, expressed confidence in converting the Hercules aircraft swiftly, aiming to have the first one ready for the upcoming wildfire season.
Coulson Aviation plans to cover the expenses for converting and operating the aircraft and will offer firefighting services under contract to governments. The conversion work will be carried out in Port Alberni, B.C., and potentially in Abbotsford and Kelowna.
The C-130H Hercules aircraft have long been crucial for the military’s transport operations, but have now been replaced by the more advanced C-130J tactical aircraft. The 10 Hercules planes being sold will be transformed into large tankers capable of carrying substantial amounts of retardant for firefighting missions worldwide.
The total sale price remains undisclosed as both the company and the government consider it confidential commercial information. Ottawa often faces the challenge of disposing of old military assets once they reach the end of their service life, with future plans including the retirement and likely scrapping of the four Victoria-class submarines in the coming decade.