Coulson Aviation gets contract to conduct night-vision aerial firefighting in BC

A homegrown world leader in aerial firefighting has been given the green light to battle wildfires at night in British Columbia.

Coulson Aviation Canada has been awarded a 70-day contract by the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) to use a state-of-the-art Sikorsky S-61 Type 1 helitanker equipped for night-vision goggle (NVG) operations.

It marks the first time that the Port Alberni-based company will conduct live-fire NVG aerial firefighting missions on Canadian soil.

Coulson Aviation President and COO Britton Coulson called it an “exciting milestone” for the company.

“We’re proud to bring our global NVG firefighting experience to Canada and collaborate with the BCWS to continue developing a program that enhances nighttime fire suppression capability in BC,” Coulson explained.

Although this will be the first time Coulson has delivered this service in Canada, the company received the world’s first NVG firefighting certification from Transport Canada all the way back in 2011.

Coulson has since received the same approvals in Australia and the US, and has expanded to operate a fully NVG-equipped rotary-wing fleet.

“This includes the flagship Quick Reaction Force (QRF) program, operated year-round in Southern California in partnership with the Orange County Fire Authority, the LA County Fire Department and the Ventura County Fire Department,” a release from Coulson explained.

“With this unmatched depth of operational experience, Coulson is proud to bring proven NVG aerial firefighting capabilities to Canadian wildfires.”

The company says it has “set the benchmark” for safe and effective night suppression, with thousands of NVG flight hours and tens of millions of gallons delivered in the dark.

According to Coulson, the NVG-equipped S-61 helitanker can deliver precise water drops in low-light conditions, extending operational effectiveness beyond traditional daylight limits.

While this will be the first time Coulson has used NVG to fight fires in Canada, it won’t be the first time the BCWS has utilized the technology in BC.

A pair of contracted BCWS helicopters started to fly with NVG technology in 2024 and officials at the time said it has the potential to be a game-changer as it becomes more common practice.

More recently, a Squamish-based startup received approval from Transport Canada to use large, semiautonomous drones, capable of flying at night, in wildfire fighting.