In preparation for the 2023 wildfire season, Coulson Aviation completed a fleet wide training exercise on Saturday, April 29, in the Angeles National Forest above Santa Clarita, seven miles northeast of Castaic Lake.

The large-scale training exercise had aircraft arriving and departing from Fox Field in Lancaster.

Resources participating in the exercise included:

– One Citation Jet “Air Attack” command platform, directing the retardant dropping airtankers.

– One Citation Jet “Lead Airplane,” clearing an approach path for the larger airtankers to ensure safety and a clear path of travel.

– Two C-130 Air Tankers, each capable of dropping 4,000 gallons of retardant.

– One Boeing 737 Air Tanker, capable of dropping 4,000 gallons of retardant.

– One Sikorsky S-76 Helicopter (HLCO) command/intelligence platform equipped with infrared technology to allow for real-time fire mapping, reporting to the “Air Attack” and capable of directing the activities of the rotor wing aircraft.

– One CH-47 Chinook Helitanker, capable of dropping 3,000 gallons of water, gel, and/or retardant.

– Two Sikorsky S-61 Helitankers, capable of dropping 1,000 gallons of water or retardant.

During the training exercise, crews practiced with water to simulate the flying characteristics of a loaded aircraft and to make accurate drops without significant environmental impact.