Government of Canada Conditionally Sells 10 Retired CC‑130H Hercules Aircraft for Aerial Firefighting Conversion
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Canada has conditionally approved the sale of 10 retired Royal Canadian Air Force CC‑130H Hercules aircraft to Coulson Aviation (Canada) Ltd., a British Columbia–based aerial firefighting company. The move is intended to strengthen Canada’s private‑sector wildfire response capacity amid increasingly severe fire seasons.
By Bjorn Ulfsson, CTIF Communications Coordinator
According to the public statement:
- The aircraft, retired in January 2026, will be converted, maintained, and operated by Coulson for wildfire and emergency‑response missions across Canada.
- The sale is conditional, pending final contractual arrangements and Transport Canada civil‑certification approvals.
- The remaining two retired Hercules aircraft will be placed on public display at Canadian bases and museums.
- The initiative is coordinated through GCMil, the federal program responsible for divesting surplus military assets.
- Officials say the conversion program will support Canadian aerospace jobs and ensure valuable military assets continue serving public‑safety roles.
To strengthen the private aerial firefighting sector
Minister Joël Lightbound said the sale ensures the aircraft “continue to serve Canadians” while strengthening the aerospace sector and improving national wildfire‑response capabilities.
Secretary of State Stephen Fuhr emphasized that responsible divestment allows retired military assets to “continue to protect Canadians” through their new role in aerial firefighting.
Industry Impact
Coulson Aviation plans to integrate the aircraft into its expanding C‑130H airtanker fleet, which uses the company’s RADS‑XXL retardant delivery system capable of dropping more than 15,000 litres of water or retardant.
The conversion work is expected to take about 20,000 labour hours per aircraft, with the first units projected to re‑enter service within 12 months.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License
Description: CC-130 Hercules
Date: 14 July 2022, 08:11
Source: CC-130 Hercules
Author: Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK
Further Reading:
https://meridiansource.ca/2026/08/07/canada-sells-10-retired-hercules-aircraft-for-firefighting/?
By Bjorn Ulfsson, CTIF Communications Coordinator