End of Chile Aerial Firefighting Season 2022

The Coulson Aviation aircraft working in Chile have ended their summer season contracts.

This was the third year of operations in Chile for Coulson Aviation, with six aircraft on contract operating with three different agencies.

Five rotary aircraft including two very large helitankers, two S61N Sikorsky and a Blackhawk, as well as fixed wing C-130 Hercules have worked to support agencies and firefighters through the contracts.

CMPC, ARAUCO and CONAF contracted the aircraft, and Coulson again partnered with Chile-based PESCO, which provides local management, logistics and facilities support to the teams working in Chile’s major fire operations

The C-130 Hercules Tanker 132, with the ability to drop up to 15,000 litres, was new to Chile and was the largest aircraft CONAF had for the season.

In February, Tanker 132 was able to deliver multiple water loads outside the Commune of Timaukel, located in the Magallanes and Chilean Antartica region. It effectively delivered water on the 53rd parallel south, which Coulson believes is the most southern large airtanker drops in history.

Coulson Aviation would like to recognise the work of its partners in supporting the contracts this summer.