Wildfire danger is on the rise all over the world. The CH-47 helicopter has served as a key asset of the United States in dealing with wildfires for 60 years. Military operators have leveraged the helicopter’s capabilities to combat wildfires throughout its service. Efficiently dropping 3,000 gallons, the dual rotorcraft is 10 times more effective than other firefighting craft.
Boeing 234s are civilian-operated versions of the CH-47, privately owned by companies commissioned to combat fires in recent decades. Due to the extreme precision, required aircraft rarely operate during the night – the most humid time when fires are at their weakest.
Wayne Coulson, CEO of Coulson Aviation, pioneers night firefighting. He is also the creator of an indispensable for-hire night and day fleet. 2020 was California’s worst wildfire season on record yet. Only one CH-47 was leased from Coulson by Southern California Edison, or SCE, in affiliation with Orange County Fire Authority.
In 2021, an official multi-aircraft Quick Reaction Force, or QRF, was formed on a 180-day contract funded by $18 million from SCE. Said contract was comprised of two CH47s: a S-61 capable of 1,000 gallons and a S-76 recon helicopter to identify targets with a laser designator. Using night-vision goggles, operators can see through the smoke and mark GPS coordinates for the tankers to drop their payload. This fleet is expensive but the QRF’s support is vital and economically justified in the long run. The ability to operate after sundown is an essential advantage.
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