Coulson Aviation Provides Aerial Firefighting Support to Argentina through Canadian Commercial Corporation
Image courtesy of Michael Nevin - Coulson Aviation’s 2022 Photo Contest winner.
Port Alberni, B.C. – February 22, 2023 - Coulson Aviation announced that it is providing aerial firefighting support services to Argentina via a CDN $6.8 million dollar government to government (G2G) contract between the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) and Argentina’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MAyDS). Beginning in January 2023, one of Coulson’s CH-47 helitankers is on a contract for a four-month period to meet Argentina’s aerial fire needs, ensuring quick response to large-scale wildfires.
“The 10,000 liter capacity CH-47 is not only the largest payload commercially available helicopter, it’s also one of the fastest,” said Britton Coulson, President and COO, Coulson Aviation. “We have been operating this fleet type worldwide with excellent serviceability and look forward to demonstrating its capabilities to the Argentine Government.”
This G2G contract comes as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CCC and MAyDS to bring Canadian firefighting expertise and technology to Argentina and is financed by Argentina’s National Fire Management Program (Servicio Nacional del Manejo del Fuego – PNMF), which supports the monitoring, prevention and management of the country's fire emergencies.
“As a country with almost 362 million hectares of forests, Canada understands the importance of protecting this valuable natural resource and stands ready to share firefighting expertise and technology with Argentina,” said Reid Sirrs, Canadian Ambassador to Argentina.
CCC is Canada’s government to government contracting agency. Through CCC’s International Prime Contractor service, the Government of Canada brings qualified Canadian companies to meet the needs of government buyers around the world. Every G2G contract has the legal effect of being signed in the name of the Government of Canada and comes with an assurance of contract performance.
In September 2019, Coulson, in partnership with CCC, signed an agreement with the Bolivian government to supply its leading aerial firefighting support services by providing 18 crew members along with three helicopters, including two Sikorsky S-61 helicopters and a custom Chinook CH-47D. Coulson became the first Canadian company to send aircraft and their crews to combat fires in the Bolivian Amazon rainforest.
“For over 75 years, our government to government contracting approach has connected qualified Canadian companies to government buyers around the world,”Wilson Pearce, Senior Director, Global Business Development Operations, Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC). “We’re pleased to further this tradition by connecting Coulson Aviation and the government of Argentina through a G2G contract.
About Coulson Aviation
Coulson Aviation is a global leader in aerial support operations. Throughout the company's 60+ years as an organization, the mission has remained the same: to protect the world from forest fires. Our organizational capabilities allow our team to provide simultaneous aerial support across numerous continents. Learn more about Coulson Aviation by visiting us online at: coulsonaviation.com.
About Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC)
We are Canada’s government to government contracting agency. We help build successful commercial relationships between Canadian businesses and governments around the world through our government to government contracting approach. We are also the Government of Canada's designated contracting authority for U.S. DoD requirements from Canada. To learn more about how we have facilitated billions in trade between Canadian businesses and governments around the world, visit www.ccc.ca/en/.