A deal with the State of Colorado might be the ticket to save jobs threatened by the announcement that the Province of B.C. is no longer going to sign a firefighting contract with Coulson Group of Companies.
CEO Wayne Coulson said he was contacted by Colorado Senator Steve King and invited to do a presentation on what Coulson has to offer when it comes to the company's total amount of firefighting resources and expertise. Coulson said they did a number of flights in the area in their Baron 58, the bird dog helicopter Coulson Group uses with the Mars bomber. He said the group was impressed with their presentation, and it lead to many opportunities.
The most important is the possibility to work with them on the retrofit of a new plane.
Coulson said Colorado was devastated this summer by fires, followed by flooding.
"They have a keen interest in what we have to offer because of all of the fires they had this year."
They went out in the Coulson helicopter to tour the area that was hit this year by the Black Forest Fire, which destroyed nearly 500 homes and burned 35 square kilometres this summer.
Coulson said part of the problem in the U.S. is that states share resources. According to a news report done when Coulson was in Colorado, the state shares nine firefighting aircraft with other states. This means resources are limited. According to Coulson, when it comes to fighting fires, limited resources can mean homes are lost while the state waits for support.
But the U.S. also offers each state free access to surplus equipment. That is where Coulson could enter the picture. King has access to a C150 that has been retired. If Colorado acquires the plane, it needs to be converted into a water bomber in order to be of any use fighting fires.
Coulson said his company can do that kind of work in the U.S.
"We've got the certification to install the tank and take it from a military plane to a firefighting aircraft," he said. "It gives us another option to keep people working."
While they were touring around the area, they also demonstrated just what their high-tech helicopter can do.
"We can build fire maps and pictures and get that information off to the firefighters on the ground," Coulson said. "That way, they know what's happening and what can be done. "The senator knows now what we can do," he said.
Coulson said the state has until April 1 to create an air-attack plan for the next fire season. He added, Coulson Group will participate in the creation of that report.
Unfortunately, Coulson said, even if this deal goes through, it is unlikely to have any affect on the fate of the Hawaii Mars in the future.
"A piston-driven aircraft like the Mars is not appropriate for that area because of the elevation," Coulson said. "It's not good for it, and it causes a lot of challenges."
But Coulson is not ready to give up yet. He is still actively seeking work for the mighty Mars.
"The government [of B.C.] will do what it wants to do," he said. "We've moved on because we want to focus on the future."
