Canada conditionally sells 10 retired Hercules aircraft to B.C. firm for wildfire firefighting

Abbotsford, British Columbia: Canada has conditionally sold 10 retired CC-130H Hercules military aircraft to British Columbia-based Coulson Aviation, which plans to convert them for aerial firefighting as the country faces increasingly severe wildfire seasons.

IBNS • 8 Aug 2026, 01:00 am

The aircraft, retired by the Royal Canadian Air Force earlier this year, will be converted, maintained and operated by Coulson Aviation (Canada) Ltd. to support wildfire and other emergency-response operations across Canada, the federal government said Friday.

The sale was announced by Stephen Fuhr, secretary of state for Defence Procurement, on behalf of Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound, during an event in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

The deal is intended to strengthen Canada's civilian wildfire-response capacity while allowing retired military assets to continue serving a public safety role.

"This initiative supports good jobs, strengthens our aerospace sector and enhances Canada's ability to respond to wildfires and other emergencies," Lightbound said.

The 10 aircraft are part of a fleet of 12 CC-130H Hercules planes retired by the Royal Canadian Air Force in January 2026. The remaining two aircraft are to be publicly displayed at military bases and museums across Canada.

Coulson Aviation, based in Port Alberni, British Columbia, plans to convert the aircraft for civilian use. The company is known for its aerial firefighting operations and has developed specialized aircraft and technologies for wildfire response.

British Columbia Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said the additional aircraft would expand Coulson's firefighting capacity.

"Coulson Aviation is a world leader in aerial firefighting," Parmar said. "These 10 aircraft will add to Coulson's firefighting capacity, so that they can continue to lead around the world."

The sale is being handled through GCMil, a Public Services and Procurement Canada group responsible for selling surplus military assets on behalf of National Defence.

The transaction remains conditional on the completion of contractual arrangements and regulatory approvals from Transport Canada before the aircraft can be certified for civilian operations.

The government did not disclose the sale price, saying the amount and bid information are confidential.

Fuhr said the planned conversion would extend the operational life of the aircraft while strengthening Canada's emergency-response capabilities.

The move comes as governments across Canada face mounting pressure to expand wildfire-response resources amid increasingly intense fire seasons.