Coulson Aviation has announced plans to develop a Boeing 767-based aerial firefighting tanker, marking a significant fleet-development move aimed at increasing large-aircraft capacity for wildfire suppression.
The programme will adapt a Boeing 767 platform into a next-generation Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT), leveraging the aircraft’s long range, high payload capability, and robust dispatch reliability. Coulson said the conversion will be optimised for modern wildfire operations, including rapid reload cycles, advanced retardant delivery systems, and compatibility with existing firefighting command-and-control frameworks.
The move reflects growing demand from governments and fire agencies for higher-capacity, longer-endurance tankers as wildfire seasons intensify and expand geographically. A 767-class tanker would sit above the company’s current large-tanker offerings in payload and range, enabling fewer sorties over long distances and improved surge response during peak fire activity.
Coulson has not yet disclosed a firm entry-into-service date or the specific variant to be converted, but indicated the project aligns with its broader strategy of scaling aerial firefighting capacity using proven commercial airframes. Further technical details, certification timelines, and customer commitments are expected to follow as the programme progresses.
Image: Coulson Aviation