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, with the remaining two Hercules aircraft slated for public display at various bases and museums.
The decision to sell the retired aircraft was disclosed by Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr during an international air show in Abbotsford, B.C. Fuhr hailed the sale as a top-notch divestment initiative that will provide a new purpose for the military assets.
The move comes at a critical time as countries worldwide face a shortage of water bombers due to the escalating intensity and frequency of wildfires. Coulson Aviation’s CEO, Wayne Coulson, expressed optimism about having the first converted aircraft ready for the upcoming wildfire season, with plans to swiftly convert the remaining aircraft.
The conversion process will be undertaken by Coulson Aviation at their own expense, with services to be offered under contract to governments. The transformation of the Hercules aircraft is set to take place in Port Alberni, B.C., as well as potentially in Abbotsford and Kelowna.
The sold C-130H Hercules aircraft, which have served as a key part of the military’s airlift capabilities for many years, will be repurposed as large tankers capable of carrying substantial amounts of retardant. The conversion of each aircraft is estimated to require around 20,000 hours of work.
Both Coulson Aviation and the government have chosen not to disclose the total sale price, citing confidentiality under the commercial agreement. The sale of old military assets by the federal government is not always an option, and items are sometimes used until the end of their service lives, necessitating their disposal.
Following the retirement of Canada’s four Victoria-class submarines in the coming decade, they are expected to be decommissioned.
