Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

For the fifth consecutive year, Coulson Aviation has been selected as the only private helicopter operator to support Southern California’s quick reaction force (QRF) to fight wildfires.&nbsp;Contracting with Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura County fire departments,&nbsp;its fleet of very large helitankers, pilots, and support crews provide service 24/7/365 in the only contract of its kind worldwide. This year’s contract covers the use of three Boeing CH-47 Chinooks and a Sikorsky S-76 intelligence and recon helicopter.&nbsp;
“Coulson Aviation is pleased to be part of this game-changing and successful force for California in response to the state’s year-round needs,” said CEO Wayne Coulson.
The CH-47s are equipped with Coulson’s RADS-L—a 3,000-gallon delivery system that can hover fill in 90 seconds via its proprietary retractable snorkel.&nbsp;The aircraft can also operate at night with pilots using night vision goggles&nbsp;and receive additional support from the S-76. During last year’s contract, Coulson dropped more than 700,000 gallons of water on more than 25 wildfires—more than&nbsp;half of them at night.
While contracted to the county fire departments, the aircraft will also be available to support partner fire departments within utility Southern California Edison’s 50,000-sq-mi&nbsp;service area.
“Our goal to keep all new wildfires to 10 acres or less 95 percent of the time is not possible without the most state-of-the-art fleet of firefighting aircraft in the world,” said Brian Fennessy, chief&nbsp;of Orange County Fire Authority.&nbsp;“That is exactly what the QRF is, and its year-round availability is a significant step in fighting what has become a year-round season of potentially deadly and destructive wildfires.”

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Coulson Firefighting Helicopters Tapped for SoCal Quick Reaction Force

Coulson will provide a trio of CH-47 firefighting helicopters to Southern California's Quick Reaction Force.

Coulson Helos Tapped for SoCal Quick Reaction Force

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Neelam Mathews

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Nepal’s army and private operators have deployed rotorcraft across the flood zone

Helicopters Play Crucial Role in Himalayan Flood Rescues

Charlotte Bailey

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Fire and disaster management agency to use aircraft in aerial reconnaissance role

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations 

Singaporean eVTOL Conducts Test Campaign In Germany 

Matt Thurber

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

In this article

Sikorsky S-76 Series

Sikorsky Aircraft

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Helicopters Play Crucial Role in Himalayan Flood Rescues

Nepal’s army and private operators have deployed rotorcraft across the flood zone

U.S. Approves $800M Bell 407/412 Sale to Iraq Military

Pentagon permission facilitates sale of Bell 412EXP and 407M

Japan Orders Its First H160 for Emergency Response

Fire and disaster management agency to use aircraft in aerial reconnaissance role

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Flights with two scaled technology demonstrators will inform potential future iterations

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Proposed rule addresses pilot awareness of control limits

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European Helicopter Association and Vertical Aviation International extended their alliance

Sikorsky Is Upgrading the Black Hawk Helicopter for Evolving Military Needs

Armed forces will be able to outfit Black Hawks with new armament and equipment.

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