Thermal, California – December 22, 2025 – Coulson Aviation has officially announced the launch of its new Boeing 767 Very Large Airtanker (VLAT) program, marking a significant advancement in global aerial wildfirefighting capabilities.
The initiative aims to sustainably replace legacy VLAT platforms that are approaching the end of their operational life.
The recent withdrawal from service of the fleets MD-11 e DC-10 highlighted a structural challenge for firefighting agencies around the world. With the retirement of older widebody aircraft, the industry faces a significant reduction in the ability to deliver large volumes of retardant on large-scale missions.
Coulson’s Boeing 767 VLAT was designed to fill this gap, offering greater payload capacity, lower fuel consumption and long-term operational sustainability compared to existing platforms.
“The firefighting industry is experiencing rapid changes in aircraft availability, and agencies need solutions that are safe, efficient and sustainable for decades to come,” said Britt Coulson, president and CEO of Coulson Aviation USA. “The 767 is a proven widebody platform with global support, broad parts availability, modern systems and extremely competitive operating economics. Our program exploits these advantages to deliver performance superior to legacy VLATs.”
The 767 VLAT will incorporate the largest version ever developed of the company’s patented RADS (Retardant Aerial Delivery System) system, while still maintaining the capacity to carry more than 160 passengers. The volume of the retardant tank must exceed that of any VLAT currently in operation. The aircraft will be designed with the same multi-mission concept and “all-risk” versatility that characterizes the Coulson fleet, while offering substantial gains in payload capacity, fuel efficiency and ease of maintenance throughout the life cycle. According to the company, the engineering phases, structural analyzes and systems integration planning are already underway.
The new 767 VLAT will complement and expand the current fleet of Large Airtankers da Coulsonwhich includes the C-130H Hercules and 737 Fireliner, considered the highest capacity 4,000-gallon LAT solutions in operation today.
With the addition of a new-generation VLAT, the company aims to offer firefighting agencies an additional strategic tool for scenarios that require continuous, high-volume aerial suppression over extended periods.
Coulson Aviation says it continues to invest in advance of demand, ensuring its partners have access to reliable, efficient and globally supported aircraft. The Boeing 767 VLAT program represents the next step in the evolution of heavy aerial wildfire fighting and reinforces the company’s position as a leader in providing safe, innovative and mission-ready solutions to the international firefighting community.
Source and images: Coulson Aviation. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
