Nighttime Aerial Firefighting Innovation
Coulson Aviation is the most innovative night aerial firefighting company in the world.
We were the first company globally to incorporate a secondary multi-functional supervision helicopter (FireWatch), that allows for hover filling over open water sources. This dramatically speeds up firefighting due to the fact the helicopter(s) no longer require a landing, filling, and takeoff process.
Furthermore, since landing and takeoffs are greatly reduced (the most dangerous segments in any aviation flight plan), operations are safer, and more efficient.
But there’s more to it than just hover filling. Our FireWatch supervision helicopter also provides thermal imaging data and laser guided drop zone technology!
“Nighttime aerial firefighting operations are 10 times more effective than during the day, thanks to the intense optimization of the drops.” - Wayne Coulson, CEO Coulson Aviation.
History of Nighttime Aerial Fire Suppression
Fire agencies such as the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles City Fire Department have been fighting fires at night, on and off since the late 1960s with limited success. According to AirMed & Rescue, the US halted all aerial firefighting activities at night in the 1970s due to cost and safety concerns.
Since 2018, both the United States and Australia have been forward thinking in their approval of nighttime trials, and ultimately our ongoing night aerial firefighting operations in both countries.
History of Coulson Night Aerial Firefighting:
Due to the Black Saturday fires experienced in 2009 in Australia, Coulson Aviation returned home to Port Alberni and began their own research and development in 2010 with the goal of creating a more efficient nighttime aerial firefighting system.
With the use of night vision technology (NVG) and FireWatch supervision helicopters we eventually developed the ability to hover fill over open water sources, and pinpoint the most effective drop zone(s) within any firefighting theatre.
This excerpt. from an AirMed & Rescue interview with our CEO Wayne Coulson, reflects the evolution of development:
‘We started to explore night flying operations in the 1990s; flying timber off the tops of mountains, utilizing twin Night Suns on the landing gear and assisted lighting the area of felled timber focusing on the perimeter with stadium lighting,” Wayne Coulson, CEO Coulson Aviation explained. “We tried NVGs at the time, however the pilots’ depth perception was far from what the technology is today on the NVGs we are utilizing. We operated this program for five years’ winters only, as we had short days and bad weather – so to keep our utilization up and stay efficient, this worked well.
Then, in 2009, it all changed with the terrible events of Black Saturday in Australia, where, in the course of one day, 173 people died in wildfires. Coulson Aviation had deployed two Sikorsky S-61s to aid firefighting efforts, but as Coulson said: “There was so much work to be done that evening [that] when the aircraft parked for the day, we all felt helpless." Upon their return to Canada, work began on figuring out how to operate safely and effectively at night. A decade and 14 different night trials later, operations could begin.’
Why Carry Out Aerial Firefighting Missions at Night?
At night, temperatures drop, and humidity may rise, making water and/or retardant drops more potent against a raging fire. There are also fewer aircraft in the skies making it safer for operations.
Coulson Aviation employs a two aircraft team, including a Sikorsky S-61 firefighting helicopter, and a Sikorsky S-76 supervision helicopter. Using NVG technology and a high-powered laser pointer, operators can pinpoint the ideal drop zone for the firefighting helicopter. This allows for superior accuracy when compared with day time operations.
Furthermore, due to the use of the thermal imaging technology, the supervision aircraft can often spot a fire’s movement. This is hard to see during daylight hours. When crews are able to operate 24/7, the fire can’t grow back over night (diminishing some of the progress made during the day).
Raising the Bar in Nighttime Aerial Firefighting
With the world’s increasing demand for effective fire suppression, aerial firefighting companies needed to find a better, and more effective way to conduct operations. Coulson Aviation was the first company to aggressively take action in this initiative.
Therefore, our team of firefighting pilots, ground support personnel, maintenance engineers, and logistics experts continue to lead the world in aerial firefighting innovation, and as a result, we’ve carried out over 60 nighttime aerial firefighting missions.
This massive effort requires exhaustive documentation and accountability in all respective countries, counties, provinces, states, and/or jurisdictions. We’ve had to be diligent and dedicated to ensure licensing and approval with regulatory agencies.
Nighttime Aerial Fire Suppression Timeline
2009 – The Trigger: In February 2009 the infamous Black Saturday bushfires ravaged the Australian state of Victoria, which was arguably the worst bushfire incident in Australia’s history. This prompted the team at Coulson Aviation to explore more advanced methods of containing wildfires with the use of advanced nighttime aerial firefighting methodologies.
2010 – Exploratory Research: Coulson Aviation funded the first exploratory tests in Port Alberni B.C., Canada. These tests included advanced technologies and systems for night aerial firefighting:
Utilizing a secondary/supervision helicopter (Sikorsky S-76) for thermal imaging reconnaissance
Utilizing a laser pointer to illuminate drop zones for firebombing aircraft
Trials of hover filling with a Sikorsky S-61
2011 – First trials: First trials using the Coulson Aviation nighttime firefighting system went into action.
2013 – S-61 and S-76 NVG: Sikorsky S-61 and S-76 helicopters are licensed for, and equipped with, night vision goggle technology.
2017-2018 – Australia takes bold action: Coulson Aviation is contracted by Victoria State (Australia) to carry out NVG nighttime firefighting missions.
2019 – Southern California takes bold action: Coulson Aviation is contracted by OCFA (Orange County Fire Authority) to carry out NVG nighttime firefighting missions. Coulson Aviation announces a multi-million-dollar investment in NVG technology for their fleet of Sikorsky and C-130 aircraft.
The Challenge of Safety Under Pressure
When our night aerial firefighting teams are dispatched to a fire there are two main disciplines we adhere to: safety and speed. Safety has to come first no matter what the conditions are, or how dire the situation may be.
Our safety-first initiative is ensured via:
training
experience
preparation
equipment
Training: All members of our night aerial firefighting teams go through rigorous training so that they can rely on muscle memory when under pressure. This includes vigilant attention to check lists and safety protocols for all tasks carried out.
Experience: All members involved in nighttime operations have vast experience carrying out daytime missions, including our pilots, support, and maintenance teams.
Preparation: Planning is critical to any well executed initiative, and that especially applies to the world of aviation. When it comes to night operations in aerial firefighting, planning is critical in order to save lives, wildlife, forests, and property. Each mission is unique, requiring a comprehensive plan that specifies what each team member is responsible for at any given time. The same goes for all preparation even before arriving on the scene of a fire.
Equipment: Your team MUST have the most advanced aircraft, communication equipment, tools, accessories, software, hardware, night vision goggles, cockpit radios, instruments, microphones, helmets, and PPE.
Coulson Aviation’s Innovations in Night Aerial Firefighting?
1. Hover Filling: Coulson Aviation is the first aerial firefighting company to utilize the Sikorsky S-61 for firebombing. It has the technology to refill its 4,000-gallon tank without landing. This speeds up aerial firefighting operations dramatically. The S-61 is the ideal aircraft for hover filling because water doesn’t get whipped up on the windscreen. Other companies (using other helicopter types) are forced to use ad hoc windscreen wipers, which only provide limited vision.
2. NVG (Night Vision Goggle Technology): Our helicopters are outfitted with advanced night vision goggles (NVG) so pilots can clearly see terrain, other aircraft, ground crew, and targeted drop zones. Coulson Aviation was the first company globally to outfit S-61 (Sikorsky) helicopter crews with night vision goggle equipment.
3. Supervision Aircraft for Thermal Imaging: With the use of thermal imaging technology, including a high-powered laser pointer onboard our S-76 (Sikorsky) helicopter, we can identify the ideal drop zone(s) for the firebombing aircraft dropping the retardant.
4. Firebombing Rotary-Wing Helicopters: Once alerted by the supervision helicopter with a laser-guided start and end drop zone, the bomber crew in the S-61 (Sikorsky) helicopter can drop the 4,000 litre retardant load on the most advantageous location, creating the best possible fire suppression. This allows for the most efficient aerial firefighting missions ever conducted.
5. SDU Super-computer weather/wind tracking technology: First tested in Orange County California, this predicative algorithm model technology is highly effective (high 94%-96% accuracy range) when predicting where wildfires are moving. This includes weather data from 160 stations in the State of California. When used efficiently, this technology can save lives and property.
Nighttime Aerial Firefighting in British Columbia, Canada
As of 2020, Coulson Aviation has been approved for advanced NVG aerial firefighting in Australia and the State of California. Recently, in our own province, the BC government has announced ongoing testing to develop advanced helitanker firefighting protocols and procedures.
Coulson Aviation would welcome the opportunity to partner with our local government(s) in an effort to share our experience, breakthroughs, knowledge, and innovations. All of mankind needs to work together in order to fight forest fires.
We’re here to help.