Coulson Aviation USA acquires Citation 550 fleet from Canadian Government, expanding global leadership in aerial supervision

Coulson Aviation USA has acquired five Citation 550 aircraft from the Canadian Government, expanding its fleet of jet-powered Lead Plane and Air Attack platforms and reinforcing its role as the world’s largest aerial firefighting company. The FAR Part 25-certified aircraft will be upgraded with Coulson’s proprietary mission enhancement package, making them the most advanced jet-based aerial supervision aircraft in service. Known for their speed, stability, and reliability, the Citation 550 represents a significant advancement in safety, situational awareness, and tactical response over legacy turboprops.

Britton Coulson, President and COO commented: “These aircraft are almost purpose-built for speed, coordination, and aerial command. This acquisition expands our capacity while raising the bar for performance and safety in aerial firefighting. We’re not just building fleets, we’re building systems. From command aircraft to retardant delivery, we manage every layer of aerial suppression with our people, technology, and safety programs."

Each aircraft will be outfitted with Coulson’s latest digital audio systems, advanced communications, and interoperable avionics to ensure seamless coordination with U.S. and international wildfire agencies.

Coulson operates the industry’s most diverse aerial firefighting fleet, supporting early and aggressive initial attack, the most effective strategy to reduce carbon emissions, ecosystem damage, and long-term wildfire costs. With this expansion, the company now operates the world’s largest jet-powered air attack fleet, supporting operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Chile. These aircraft provide tactical coordination, Large Airtanker integration, and low-level airspace deconfliction during multi-agency wildfire responses.

As the only vertically integrated aerial firefighting company operating air attack, lead planes, large air tankers, and helicopters, Coulson combines operational integration with continued investment in innovation, specialized training, supported maintenance, and global deployed crews, positioning it as a key partner in combating wildfire threats.